NYPD Chief Detective Robert Boyce told reporters Wednesday that “considerable evidence” has been gathered in their sexual assault investigation against Harvey Weinstein, and that it is up to District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. to decide if and when to indict him.
“It’s his case right now,” Boyce said. “I would ask you to ask him … where it goes forward.”
New York authorities are specifically investigating claims filed by actress Paz de la Huerta, who said that Weinstein raped her on two occasions in 2010. Boyce says they have spoken with witnesses who are prepared to testify in secret before a grand jury. NYPD did not respond to TheWrap’s request for further comment.
Police in Los Angeles and London are also investigating claims against Weinstein. L.A. and Beverly Hills police have sent five cases to the Los Angeles County District Attorney for review.
In addition to criminal investigations, Weinstein is facing a federal RICO suit filed by six women this past December. The suit said the plaintiffs faced “credible and objective threat of being blacklisted by Weinstein and major film producers such as Miramax and TWC if they refused Weinstein’s unwanted sexual advances or complained about his behavior.”
A civil lawsuit has also been filed by the New York state attorney general’s office against The Weinstein Company, accusing the company of civil rights violations by neglecting to properly act upon internal complaints of sexual harassment of company employees by Weinstein.
Weinstein has denied all accusations of non-consensual conduct.