Harvey Weinstein calls on former company to release his work emails

Lawyers for the disgraced movie mogul said the Weinstein Company has refused to provide him access to e-mails that were relevant to ongoing criminal and civil lawsuits. He is pictured a company after party in Beverly Hills, California on January 8, 2017

Harvey Weinstein’s laywers have called on the film studio he used to co-own with his brother to hand over a stash of his work emails, claiming they could help clear his name.

In a filing with the US Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, an attorney acting for the disgraced movie mogul said the Weinstein Company has refused to allow him access to e-mails that were relevant to ongoing criminal and civil lawsuits.

The 66-year-old was fired by the company after dozens of women including actresses Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek accused him of offences including sexual assault and rape. The film studio filed for bankruptcy in March amid the scandal.

Weinstein is the target of federal and state criminal investigations in at least four different jurisdictions, including New York, Los Angeles, and London, which have requested documentation relating to their cases, according to the filing.

He is also the subject of at least 11 civil suits, including one brought by British aspiring actress Kadian Noble. Weinstein denies all claims of non-consensual sex. 

According to his attorney, Scott D. Cousins: ‘It is critical that Mr. Weinstein be granted access to e-mails relevant to the certain civil proceedings and criminal investigations and that are in the Debtors’ possession, as they were sent or received by his TWC e-mail accounts.

Angelina Jolie in London on Feb 18

Salma Hayek in Beverly Hills on April 14

The 66-year-old was fired by the company’s board after dozens of women including actresses Angelina Jolie (left, in London on Feb 18) and Salma Hayek (right, in Beverly Hills on April 14) accused him of sexual offences 

‘The Debtors’ continued refusal to permit Mr. Weinstein to access these emails has significantly impinged his ability to effectively defend himself from these allegations and is a continuing deprivation of his due-process rights.’

Weinstein’s lawyers previously filed a suit asking a Delaware state court to force open up access to his work emails on October 8, but that attempt failed.

Cousins blasted the Weinstein Company’s board, which includes his brother, Bob, saying it was against their interests to deny him access to the emails as doing so exposes them to increased civil liability.

‘To put it bluntly, TWC, and its counsel, may be knowingly withholding e-mails that may exonerate Mr. Weinstein and, importantly, that would aid in the efficient conclusion of multiple pending criminal investigations and civil litigations, thereby limiting significant potential liability to the Debtors and their estates,’ he argued.

Weinstein is  the subject of at least 11 civil suits, including one brought by British aspiring actress Kadian Noble (pictured in New York on November 28

Weinstein is the subject of at least 11 civil suits, including one brought by British aspiring actress Kadian Noble (pictured in New York on November 28

The Weinstein Company itself has been sued by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman over claims it tolerated the ‘systematic’ sexual abuse of staff

Cousins said the Weinstein Company had already provided a ‘handful’ of emails which were already in the hands of investigators.

He added that he was confident Weinstein would be able to obtain a ‘favorable conclusion’ to the cases against him if he is able to view the emails.

The Weinstein Company was set up by Harvey Weinstein and his film producer brother Bob in 2005. It filed for bankruptcy after it spent months looking for a buyer or investor.

Texas private equity firm Lantern Capital agreed to buy the company out of bankruptcy for $310 million, setting the floor for other bidders in a court-supervised auction scheduled for May 4.

While the film studio has produced and distributed critically acclaimed movies as ‘The King’s Speech’, as well as the televised fashion competition ‘Project Runway,’ the entertainment industry distanced itself from the studio after the accusations against Harvey Weinstein rocked Hollywood.

The women who spoke out against Weinstein spurred a national movement against sexual harassment, with victims sharing their stories on social media and labeling them under the hashtag #MeToo. 

Dailymail.com has contacted Weinstein’s representative for comment.  

The Weinstein Company filed for bankruptcy after it spent months looking for a buyer or investor. Pictured is the firm's logo

The Weinstein Company filed for bankruptcy after it spent months looking for a buyer or investor. Pictured is the firm’s logo



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