Harvey Weinstein Under LAPD Investigation For Rape
(UPDATED with lawyer statement) As NYPD and the London Metropolitan Police have begun investigating potential criminal complaints against Harvey Weinstein, the Los Angeles Police today formally announced its is now looking into rape allegations against the disgraced producer.
“The Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery Homicide Division has interviewed a potential sexual assault victim involving Harvey Weinstein which allegedly occurred in 2013,” LAPD Officer Sal Ramirez said today. “The case is under investigation,” the police officer added of potential charges that could see Weinstein jailed for nearly a decade if found guilty. “There is no more information at this time.”
Spotlighting an assault that allegedly occurred following a fashion and film event at the Mr. C Beverly Hills Hotel in February 2013, an Italian women met this morning for several hours with detectives in the department’s Robbery-Homicide Division’s rape unit. “A detailed statement of what happened and what Harvey Weinstein’s action were was provided,” a law enforcement source tells Deadline of the model/actress’ time with the detectives.
“Mr. Weinstein obviously can’t speak to anonymous allegations, but he unequivocally denies allegations of non-consensual sex,” reps for Weinstein said Thursday in response to the LAPD action.
“My client is grateful to all the courageous women who have already come forward to finally expose Weinstein,” said attorney David Ring on Thursday. “These women may not have realized it, but they gave my client the support and encouragement to hold Weinstein accountable for this horrible act.”
The LAPD meeting and announcement comes exactly two weeks after the New York Times first posted its devastating story of decades of alleged sexual harassment by the volatile Weinstein. As more and more women came forward, a subsequent New Yorker piece added more claims and at least three allegations of rape against Weinstein.
This 2013 incident falls well within the 10-year range of the old statute of limitations of such sex crimes in the state of California. Late last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a new law removing any limit in the state on criminal prosecution of sexual assault. However, the law, based in great part on Bill Cosby’s ability to escape prosecution in many of the more than 60 allegations against him, only affects such sexual assaults that take place after January 1, 2017.
On October 12, Deadline exclusively reported the LAPD was “considering” an investigation into the much-accused Weinstein. Today’s announcement follows LA City Attorney Mike Feuer this week asking “alleged victims” to contact his office or the LAPD, saying October 17 said “we take allegations like these very seriously, and where the facts support conviction, we will prosecute.”
Any investigation conducted by the LAPD could be passed on to both the City Attorney’s office and the L.A. County District Attorney’s office. With Weinstein potentially facing up to eight-years behind bars under California law, D.A. Jackie Lacey’s team would then assess whether it thought criminal charges were warranted.
In clear anticipation of such actions, Weinstein retained powerhouse criminal attorney Blair Berk on October 11 to represent him. Berk did not respond Thursday for request for comment on the LAPD investigation.
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