Harvey Weinstein faces threat of police probe as film company pledges its 'full energies' to any criminal investigation

Harvey Weinstein speaks onstage at The Weinstein Company's Pre-Oscar Dinner in February this year.
Getty Images for The Weinstein C
David Gardner11 October 2017

Harvey Weinstein’s film company has pledged to cooperate with police in any sex crimes investigations into the disgraced movie mogul.

After firing its Oscar-winning founder, The Weinstein Company’s board of directors said they were “committed to assisting with our full energies in all criminal or other investigations of these alleged acts.”

The statement is the first time the possibility of criminal action against Weinstein, 65, has been publicly raised since the scandal broke nearly a week ago.

The board - which includes Weinstein’s brother, Bob - said it was “shocked and dismayed” by the allegations but insisted: “Any suggestion that the board had knowledge of this conduct is false.”

It has pledged to carry out a full and independent investigation of its own.

Harvey Weinstein and fashion designer wife Georgina Chapman.
Getty Images

Weinstein has apologised for some of his behaviour but he denies any allegations of rape or sexual assault.

He was reported to be flying to Europe today to check into a rehab clinic for treatment for sex addiction - just hours after his British wife announced she was leaving him.

“Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein,” a representative said in a statement, adding that “Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual.”

Weinstein and long-time colleague George Clooney, who called the allegations 'indefensible'.
Jimi Celeste/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Although some of the alleged incidents happened some years ago, legal experts said Weinstein could face a police probe.

In New York there is no statute of limitations for criminal sexual assault while in Los Angeles a previous 10-year stature was removed last year by California Governor Jerry Brown.

Weinstein reportedly left Los Angeles by private jet after Georgina Chapman announced she was ending the 10-year marriage because of his “unforgivable actions” towards a procession of women who have come forward with accusations of sexual harassment, assault and rape.

The 41-year-old fashion designer from Richmond, south-west London issued a statement revealing she leaving the 65-year-old producer after actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie made damning new claims against the movie mogul.

“My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions,” said Ms Chapman, co-founder of upscale women’s fashion line Marchesa.

“I have chosen to leave my husband. Caring for my young children is my first priority and I ask the media for privacy at this time,” said Ms Champan.

Weinstein with Dame Judi Dench, who condemned him following the allegations.
Scott Wintrow/Getty Images

The split comes days after Weinstein insisted his wife, with whom he has two children India Pearl, seven, and Dashiell, four, was standing “100 per cent behind me.”

Insiders told TMZ that Weinstein was “surprisingly calm” despite the sex scandal that has snowballed since the New York Times first reported last Thursday that the producer had paid off eight women over alleged sexual harassment claims.

“I support her decision, I am in counselling and perhaps, when I am better, we can rebuild,” he said of the break-up of his marriage.

“Over the last week, there has been a lot of pain for my family that I take responsibility for. I sat down with my wife Georgina, who I love more than anything, and we discussed what was best for our family.

“We discussed the possibility of a separation and I encouraged her to do what was in her heart.

“I understand, I love her and I love our children and hopefully, when I am better, I will be in their lives again,” he added.

The couple were said to be holed up in a Los Angeles hotel room yesterday and Weinstein took advice from friends suggesting he should seek help abroad.

He is reportedly seeking treatment at a live-in rehab facility for sex addiction and other behavourial issues, but the exact location has not been revealed.

The scandal showed no sign of blowing over today with more actresses going public with claims that they were victims of sexual abuse.

Jolie, 42, said the Oscar-winning studio head made unwanted advances in a hotel room in 1998 when she was 23 and promoting her film, Playing By Heart.

“I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did, she told The New York Times. “This behaviour towards women in any field, any country is unacceptable.”

Paltrow, 45, also claimed that Weinstein sexually harassed her at his Beverly Hills hotel when she was just 22. After she confided in then boyfriend Brad Pitt, he allegedly confronted the producer and warned him to stay away from the actress.

Gwyneth Paltrow alleged Weinstein harassed her in the 1990s.
Dave Benett

In another serious development, 42-year-old Italian actress Asia Argento told the New Yorker magazine that Weinstein raped her in 1997 at a party hosted by Miramax at the Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc.

Actress and screenwriter Louisette Geiss said in a press conference with high-profile attorney Gloria Allred that Weinstein tried to force her to watch him masturbate while she was pitching a movie at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008.

Actresses Mira Sorvino and Rosanna Arquette also claimed they fended off Weinstein’s sexual advances and said their careers soon suffered as a result.

Former US President Obama, whose daughter, Malia, 19, worked as an intern for The Weinstein Company earlier this year, said yesterday that he and wife Michelle were “disgusted” by the claims.

“Any man who demeans and degrades women in such a fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status,” they said in a joint statement.

Actress Charlize Theron wrote on Instagram: “The women who have spoken about their abuse are brave and heroic and although I didn’t have a personal experience like this with Harvey Weinstein, I unfortunately cannot say I’m surprised.

“This culture has always existed, not just in Hollywood but across the world. And many men in positions of power have gotten away with it for far too long.”

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