Harvey Weinstein’s team hit back at reports that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is paving the way to an indictment of the indie film mogul for sex crimes, saying they do not believe that any criminal charges are “imminent.” Weinstein’s flacks also announced that Blair Berk and Ben Brafman will defend Weinstein in any matters in New York.
“We do not believe an indictment of Mr. Weinstein is imminent,” the statement from Weinstein’s spokesperson read. “A formal presentation will be made on Mr. Weinstein’s behalf in the appropriate course of the investigation, and we strongly believe we will demonstrate that no criminal charges are warranted.”
Police have been investigating Weinstein in conjunction with allegations that he raped “Boardwalk Empire” actress Paz de la Huerta on two separate instances in 2010. The New York Post reports that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance’s office is prepared to present evidence to a grand jury and suggests that an indictment could come as early as next week. A spokesperson for the district attorney declined to comment. Last week, the NYPD’s chief of detectives, Robert Boyce, said de la Huerta’s allegations were “credible and detailed.”
Weinstein has been accused of harassing and assaulting dozens of women, including Angelina Jolie, Ashley Judd, and Mira Sorvino. In addition to New York, reports of sexual assault involving the producer have been filed in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and London. Weinstein has been fired from the Weinstein Company, the indie studio he co-founded.
