Weinstein accused of another rape
NEW YORK — Harvey Weinstein was facing a new rape allegation on Friday as part of a lawsuit alleging that he had help covering up his misconduct with women.
The lawsuit was filed in New York by three women, including one who says Weinstein assaulted her at a Manhattan hotel in 2011.
Melissa Thompson says that when she was meeting with Weinstein to pitch internet technology, he cornered her and “out-muscled” her as she tried to fight him off. She alleges he then held her down and raped her.
She did not report it to law enforcement authorities because she feared for her safety and career, the lawsuit said.
“She knew that Weinstein could and would destroy her if she complained about his sexual misconduct,” the lawsuit said.
Besides Thompson, two other women made new claims in the lawsuit, which seeks class-action status to represent hundreds of other women it says were victimized by Weinstein and what it described as his enablers.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages as well as retribution for class members’ loss of work opportunities and “devastating damage” to their careers. It alleges racketeering, witness tampering, mail and wire fraud, assault, civil battery, negligent supervision and retention and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
A lawyer for Weinstein did not immediately respond to a request to comment. Weinstein has denied sexually assaulting anyone.
The lawsuit was filed a week after Weinstein was arrested on New York state rape and criminal sex act charges. Weinstein was released on $1 million bail and is required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.