Attorneys for disgraced Hollywood Mogul, Harvey Weinstein, claim that they have “extraordinary” e-mails from his most vocal accusers which prove they made up sexual allegations against their client.
READ: Sophie Okonedo was dropped from a role by Harvey Weinstein because she wasn’t ‘fuckable’
Prosecutors have repeatedly said that they plan to strengthen their case by calling women as witnesses who would testify to uncharged crimes, to show a pattern of predatory sexual behaviour.
In a new filing at the Manhattan Supreme Court, Weinstein’s attorney Ben Brafman attacks the credibility of these potential witnesses, saying he has e-mails to prove they were lying. Brafman renews his request that the sitting judge, Justice James Burke dismiss the sex-assault case against the Weinstein, arguing that prosecutors had failed to turn over some supposedly compromising evidence.
“For the most part, these extraordinary e-mails suggest, beyond question, that many of these women have lied in making their complaints against Mr. Weinstein,” the document said. “These e-mails will also undermine the … motion that the People have been threatening to file.”
Prosecutors are yet to identify the women they intend to call as such witnesses at trial, even as the Justice James Burke will first have to rule on whether their testimony is admissible.
The indictment against Weinstein is based on two accusers, an unnamed woman, who alleged the former Hollywood strongman raped her in 2013, and production assistant Mimi Haleyi, who says he forcibly performed oral sex on her in 2006. But Brafman has said both women sent Weinstein affectionate and friendly e-mails after the alleged incident.
A criminal count related to a third accuser, actress Lucia Evans, was dismissed in October over spiralling credibility concerns because she had given inconsistent accounts of the 2004 attack. The lead detective on the case was also booted for alleged misconduct.
However, prosecutors have insisted that the remaining cases against Weinstein are ‘very strong’ and vow to pursue it to the end.
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by 208headlines