Harvey Weinstein: sued in civil court after his conviction in Los Angeles

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, already found guilty of several sexual assaults on a model during his recent criminal trial in Los Angeles, was sued in civil court on Thursday, February 9 by the same woman. The 70-year-old former film "king" was found guilty in December of committing a rape and two sexual assaults in 2013 on the European model, who testified anonymously at the trial. He faces up to eighteen years in prison for this and risks ending his life behind bars, because he is already serving a twenty-three year prison sentence after his conviction in New York in 2020 for similar acts which he appealed.

His victim filed a complaint in a Los Angeles court, seeking civil damages. Consulted by AFP, this complaint does not specify the amount claimed. In 2021, a civil agreement had awarded 17 million dollars to several dozen women accusing the former producer, but this model was not one of them.

Since 2017 and the first accusations that spawned the #MeToo movement, nearly 90 women have accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment, sexual assault or rape. But the statute of limitation has been exceeded in many of these cases, some dating back to 1977. In criminal matters, the defense of Harvey Weinstein must present its arguments to demand a new trial at a hearing on February 23. If his appeal is rejected, his sentence will be handed down the same day. In addition to his legal setbacks in the United States, the ex-producer is also charged in the United Kingdom for sexual assaults which date back to 1996.