Some of the accusers of disgraced Hollywood mogul, Harvey Weinstein are reported to have written a letter to New York Attorney General Letitia James asking her to reconsider supporting a proposed civil settlement of all “Weinstein related sexual harassment and sexual assault cases,” CNN reports.
This latest development comes just a day (March 11th 2020) before Harvey Weinstein who already has been found guilty, is handed his sentence for the charges. According to the report, the accusers who were reported to have written to the Judge are seven in number, where they were quoted to have written to the Judge, saying:
“We have been told that your office supports the proposed civil settlement of all Weinstein-related sexual harassment and sexual assault cases. We ask you to reconsider.”
The accusers have asked James to “closely examine” and “renegotiate the terms so that the victims’ fund adequately compensates victims and doesn’t fund the alleged wrongdoers’ defence.”
While his charges relate to two women, more than 80 others have publicly accused Weinstein of wrongdoing ranging from unwanted advances to rape. Weinstein has repeatedly denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.
The report by CNN stating furhter said a spokesperson for the attorney general said that she will continue to seek justice for the victims of Weinstein.
“Attorney General James has been steadfast in her pursuit of justice for victims,” the spokesperson said in a statement issued Monday.
“Since the emergence of allegations in 2017, our office has sought to hold Harvey Weinstein accountable for his conduct against women.
We remain keenly focused on providing these brave women with the justice they are owed and to fight for the best settlement that is possible in bankruptcy court.”
A source with knowledge of a tentative deal confirmed to CNN in December that attorneys for some of the accusers had rejected it.
That deal would have given $25 million to Weinstein’s accusers while not requiring him to admit wrongdoing or pay victims himself, The New York Times reported. It would have also given another $12 million to attorneys representing his alleged enablers, according to a statement issued last year by attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor and Kevin Mintzer, who are representing some of the victims.
The accusers said in Monday’s letter that a proposed “settlement is insulting to all of the survivors in that it represents a small fraction of what should be paid by Mr. Weinstein, his former directors and officers, and large multi-billion dollar insurance companies.”
The proposed settlement would prevent the accusers from pursuing claims against the Weinstein Company’s insurers and other individuals who had knowledge of Weinstein’s actions but did nothing to stop them, the letter said.
Additionally, some class action attorneys who do not represent those involved in the letter, would receive large sums of money while the victims would only get only a small fraction under the terms of the settlement, according to the letter.
While recognizing that the settlement could benefit some victims, the letter goes on to say that it would be detrimental to victims who continue to seek relief from companies involved in the case.
“Survivors are being presented with a ‘choice’ of accepting an unfair settlement that is a fraction of what was originally discussed and for which the main wrongdoers are paying nothing, or proceed against a company that has been stripped of all assets and against our sexual assaulter, whose defence will be funded by the very agreement that would otherwise have been turned down,” the letter said. “There is nothing fair or just about this.”
While the accusers have written to the Judge, Harvey Weinstein Lawyer on Monday, also wrote to the judge asking for mercy for his client.
The lawyer had asked the judge to consider that Weinstein otherwise has no criminal history. The lawyer tried reopening the case by writing, “Both [victims] continued consensual relationships with Mr Weinstein after the alleged assaults and contacted him for jobs, tickets, and professional advice.”
Weinstein’s lawyer also wants the judge to give weight to Weinstein’s charitable contributions, including millions for the 9/11 firefighters and police officers. He also helped raise $2.5 billion for the Robin Hood org.
“The trial did not fairly portray who he is as a person. His life story, his accomplishments, and struggles are simply remarkable and should not be disregarded in total because of a jury’s verdict,” Weinstein’s lawyer stated.
67-year-old Weinstein faces a maximum of 29 years in prison for a Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree and Rape in the Third Degree. Prosecutors have asked the judge to impose a sentence that reflects the seriousness of his offenses, his total lack of remorse and the need to deter him from engaging in further criminal conduct.
Harvey Weinstein found guilty of rape in the third degree and criminal sexual acts in the first degree, bringing his seven-week New York trial to a conviction in the central criminal case of the #MeToo movement.
His defence attorney Donna Rotunno made an unsuccessful last-ditch plea to keep Weinstein free on bail due, in part, to his ill health and pain as a result of an auto accident last summer, but the judge did not grant the request.
A poll of the jury found unanimity, including on the not guilty verdicts returned for two predatory sexual assault charges involving actress Annabella Sciorra.
The first-degree charge, stemming from allegations by former Project Runway production assistant Miriam “Mimi” Haley that Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her at his Soho apartment in 2006, could see the Miramax co-creator face up to 25 years in prison, with a minimum of four years.
The third-degree rape count, based on a 2013 rape allegation by Weinstein’s former hairstylist and aspiring actress Jessica Mann, could bring up to four years in prison, though probation on that count is possible.
With the 25 year maximum, the conviction could see the 67-year-old Weinstein spend the rest of his life in prison. He also faces a sexual misconduct trial in Los Angeles involving two women, one of whom – Lauren Marie Young – testified in New York to bolster the Haley and Mann cases.