Harvey Weinstein under investigation for allegedly groping 22-year-old model

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/mar/30/harvey-weinstein-groping-investigation

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Harvey Weinstein is under investigation after a 22-year-old model described as being an “acquaintance” of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi accused the Hollywood movie mogul of groping her in his New York City office on Friday, according to reports.

Weinstein, accompanied by his lawyer, submitted to questioning on Sunday after the woman accused the Oscar-winning studio boss of fondling her breasts and hips Friday at the Tribeca Film Center, an NYPD spokesman confirmed to the Guardian.

The police investigation is now being overseen by the Manhattan district attorney’s office. No charges have yet been filed.

According to the New York Daily News, which first reported the incident, the woman – described as an Italian fashion model – met the producer on Thursday, and upon learning who he was, agreed to a meeting at his office to discuss “business”.

Citing unnamed police sources, the local news site DNAinfo reported that the model was an “acquaintance” of Berlusconi, who was driven from elected office after he was convicted of having sex with underage prostitutes, as well as tax fraud.

The incident allegedly took place at Weinstein’s office around 6pm on Friday. Police did not confirm the location of the alleged assault to the Guardian.

The producer, who was raised in Queens, New York, co-founded Miramax with his brother, Bob. The Santa Monica-based company emerged as a prominent player in the independent cinema scene, behind such films as Errol Morris’s The Thin Blue Line and Steven Soderbergh’s Sex, Lies, and Videotape.

After Miramax was acquired by Disney in 2005 and the brothers later left to found the Weinstein Company, Harvey has become one of the most prominent Hollywood power players, know for his fierce Academy Award campaigns to shine accolades upon the The King’s Speech, The Artist, Silver Linings Playbook and this year – in a failed effort – The Imitation Game.

Weinstein is married to the fashion designer Georgina Chapman, with whom he has two children.

The New York Daily News noted that Weinstein has long been critical of efforts to extradite director Roman Polanski to the US to face charges that he raped a 13-year-old girl. Weinstein’s company distributed a film about Polanski’s case that questions whether the director actually committed any crime.

A representative for the Weinstein Company did not respond to requests for comment from the Guardian.