Weinstein ‘will turn himself in to police today over sex assault claims from actress’
HARVEY Weinstein faces arrest in New York today following an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations, it was reported last night.
The disgraced Hollywood mogul is expected to hand himself in to police, sources said.
Weinstein’s defence attorney Benjamin Brafman declined to comment last night. But a person familiar with the case confirmed the report on condition of anonymity.
Weinstein will be charged over an allegation by at least one accuser, Lucia Evans, it was claimed by US media. The former aspiring actress has previously claimed he forced her to perform a sex act on him in 2004. The exact nature of the charges likely to be brought by Manhattan prosecutors was unclear and the New York Police Department and the district attorney’s office declined to comment.
Prosecutors in Los Angeles said in February that they were reviewing three accusations of sexual assault against him.
More than 70 women have accused the co-founder of the Miramax studio and The Weinstein Co of sexual misconduct including rape. Actress Ashley Judd has said he cost her a part in 1998 after she rejected his sexual advances, charges that he has denied. Other stars who have publicly accused him of sexual misconduct include Uma Thurman and Salma Hayek.
Weinstein has denied having nonconsensual sex.
On Wednesday, Gwyneth Paltrow said her then-boyfriend Brad Pitt threatened to kill Weinstein after being told he had harassed her.
Miss Paltrow said that he never troubled her again after Pitt confronted him at a New York theatre in 1995 after Weinstein allegedly called her to his hotel room and tried to massage her.