Weinstein’s rape accuser wrote: ‘I love you’

Lawyers seek to dismiss Hollywood producer’s sex case based on exchange of ‘complimentary’ emails

ONE of the women accusing Harvey Weinstein of rape told the film producer “I love you” and repeatedly attempted to meet him, according to a series of emails filed in court yesterday.

The former media mogul’s lawyers filed documents seeking to dismiss the charges, claiming the producer was “in a long-term, consensual, intimate relationship” with the accuser.

Representing the 66-year-old, Benjamin Brafman, produced a selection of emails from 400 communications between Weinstein and the unnamed woman who claimed she was attacked on March 18, 2013, in New York City.

“I love you, always do,” she wrote on February 8, 2017. “But I hate feeling like a booty call. :)”

Mr Brafman also claimed she emailed Weinstein to ask for his help with securing membership of Soho House, and also suggested bringing her mother to meet him.

“I hope to see you sooner than later,” she wrote on April 11, 2013 – a little under a month after the alleged incident.

The next day she wrote: “I appreciate all you do for me, it shows,” and on April 17 followed up with: “It would be great to see you again, and catch up!”

In August 2013 she wrote to give him her new phone number, saying: “Just wanted you to have it. Hope you are well and call me anytime, always good to hear your voice.”

Mr Brafman characterised the conversation as part of “an exchange of more than 400 warm, complimentary and solicitous emails”, stating that “never once” did she claim to have ever been harmed by Weinstein.

Weinstein had been prevented from accessing the emails on his work account while his company was going through bankruptcy proceedings.

He had been seeking access to the communications since October, shortly after he was ousted from the Weinstein Company, arguing that they would help him defend himself from any sexual misconduct allegations. The bankruptcy court finally granted him access in May.

The 66-year-old was charged with four counts of sexual assault and two of rape on 25 May. Five days later a Grand Jury indicted him, allowing the case to proceed to trial.

Mr Brafman argued that evidence in the producer’s favour was previously withheld from the Grand Jury. He accused Cyrus Vance, the district attorney of being in a “rush to prosecute” and depicted him as being under “unprecedented pressure” to bring charges. Mr Brafman also sought to dismiss charges brought by the two other women – actress Lucia Evans who claims she was sexually assaulted in 2004 and former production assistant, Mimi Haleyi, who says she was attacked in 2006. Mr Brafman said that “neither case is corroborated by any physical or forensic evidence”.

More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault. He has denied all accusations of abuse, but admitted to inappropriate behaviour. He is due back in court in New York on September 20.