Harvey Weinstein, the movie producer who has been accused by numerous women of sexual assault and harassment, is now facing a civil rights lawsuit.
“Any sale of The Weinstein Company must ensure that victims will be compensated, employees will be protected going forward, and that neither perpetrators nor enablers will be unjustly enriched. Every New Yorker has a right to a workplace free of sexual harassment, intimidation, and fear.”
The suit comes as the brothers attempt to sell their company, which was founded in 2005.
Former Obama administration official Maria Contreras-Sweet was the interested buyer.
The investigation leading to the new lawsuit started in October after allegations of Weinstein’s sexual misconduct started.
He’s also being investigated in New York City, London, and California as police work to confirm various allegations.
Weinstein has denied he ever engaged in non-consensual sex.
The new lawsuit claims that the company’s board of directors and executives failed to protect employees from Weinstein’s predatory behavior, despite widespread knowledge of his actions.
Groups of female employees helped Weinstein complete his so-called conquests, according to the suit. The women were described as Weinstein’s “wing women.”
A separate group, predominantly female, served as Weinstein’s assistants and, according to the press release announcing the suit, “were compelled to take various steps to further HW’s regular sexual activity, including by contacting ‘Friends of Harvey’ and other prospective sexual partners via text message or phone at his direction and maintaining space on his calendar for sexual activity.”
According to Schneiderman, “This employee, and other TWC employees, believed that they would face adverse employment consequences unless they acquiesced to such demands.”
