LAPD to probe sexual abuse charges

Police in Los Angeles have launched an investigation of Harvey Weinstein involving a possible sexual assault in 2013, authorities said on Thursday.

Detectives have interviewed a possible victim who recently reported she was sexually assaulted by the film mogul, police spokesman Sal Ramirez said.

He said he could not answer any questions about where the incident took place or when the woman was interviewed by detectives.

The Los Angeles Times reported the woman is a 38-year-old Italian actress who spoke to the newspaper on Thursday.

She was not named in the story, but said that Weinstein raped her after bullying his way into her hotel room.

“My client is grateful to all the courageous women who have already come forward to finally expose Weinstein,” the woman’s attorney, David M. Ring, said in a statement. “These women may not have realised it, but they gave my client the support and encouragement to hold Weinstein accountable for this horrible act.”

Sallie Hofmeister, a representative for Weinstein, said in a statement that Weinstein can’t speak to anonymous allegations.

“But he unequivocally denies allegations of non-consensual sex,” Hofmeister said. —AP