Fallout grows for producer Weinstein

A US TV news anchor has lodged another claim of sexual misconduct against Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

producer Harvey Weinstein

Harvey Weinstein's lawyer won't defend the movie mogul's sexual harassment allegations. (AAP)

A US TV news anchor has lodged another claim of sexual misconduct against powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and a third board member has resigned from Weinstein's company.

Meanwhile a prominent US lawyer says she's no longer representing the movie mogul as he confronts sexual harassment allegations dating back years.

TV anchor Lauren Sivan detailed an alleged 2007 encounter with Weinstein in a HuffPost report on Friday.

Sivan alleged that Weinstein cornered her in the hallway of a Manhattan restaurant closed to the public and masturbated in front of her.

Sivan said she had rejected an attempt by Weinstein to kiss her. "Well, can you just stand there and shut up," she claims he responded.

Sivan reaffirmed the HuffPost report on Twitter.

The developments, along with the departure of yet another lawyer for Weinstein, are the latest fallout from allegations against the Oscar-winner that The New York Times detailed in an expose on Thursday.

"My understanding is that Mr Weinstein and his board are moving toward an agreement," lawyer Lisa Bloom said in announcing her resignation on Twitter.

Bloom has previously represented victims of sexual harassment and assault. Her work with the co-chair of The Weinstein Company drew fierce criticism online.

President Donald Trump was asked by reporters to weigh in on the embattled Hollywood figure.

"I've known Harvey Weinstein a long time," Trump replied. When asked if he was surprised by the accusations, the president replied: "Not at all."

The allegations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein were detailed in a report this week by The New York Times.

Weinstein is on indefinite leave from the company he co-founded while it conducts an investigation into the claims made by women including actors Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan and stretching back years.

The scandal's fallout included the resignation of Weinstein Company board member Marc Lasry, charirman and CEO of Avenue Capital Group, which was confirmed on Saturday by a Lasry spokesman, Todd Fogarty. Lasry joined an exodus from the nine-member board, with billionaire Dirk Ziff and, according to reports, Technicolor executive Tim Sarnoff also leaving.

On another front, Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski tweeted that "unless Harvey resigns" she will withdraw from a three-book deal she has with Weinstein Books.


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Published 8 October 2017 11:10am
Source: AAP


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