Winfrey: Simmons’ pressure not why I left film project
NEW YORK — Oprah Winfrey said Friday that Russell Simmons attempted to pressure her about her involvement with a documentary in which several women detail sexual abuse allegations against the rap mogul, but his efforts were not what prompted her to leave the project.
“He did reach out multiple times and attempted to pressure me,” Winfrey told The Associated Press through a spokesperson on Friday. It was not anything Simmons said that prompted Winfrey to withdraw from the “On the Record” film, according to Winfrey, but rather inconsistencies in the story of one of Simmons’ accusers, Drew Dixon, that she felt needed to be addressed. Winfrey has said she wanted to delay the release of the film, which is scheduled to premiere Jan. 25 at the Sundance Film Festival, but that view was not shared by the film’s directors.
Weinstein jury chosen
NEW YORK — A jury of seven men and five women was selected Friday for Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial. During jury selection, prosecutors accused Weinstein’s lawyers of trying to keep young women off the panel.
Tesla acceleration complaints studied
DETROIT — The U.S. government’s auto safety agency is looking into allegations that all three of Tesla’s electric vehicle models can suddenly accelerate on their own. An NHTSA document shows 127 owner complaints to the government that include 110 crashes.
Ex-congressman gets 2 years
NEW YORK — Christopher Collins, 69, a former congressman who was one of President Donald Trump’s first supporters, was sentenced Friday to two years and two months in federal prison after admitting he helped his son and others dodge $800,000 in stock market losses when he learned of a failed drug trial. “My life has been shattered,” he said.
Teachers sue over plane’s fuel dump
LOS ANGELES — Four teachers from a Los Angeles-area school sued Delta Air Lines on Friday after a plane with engine trouble dumped its fuel. They said their panicked students screamed and cried.