NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on the Manhattan district attorney’s decision to drop some charges against Harvey Weinstein. (all times local):
1:50 p.m.
The New York Police Department says it is investigating allegations that a detective improperly coached a witness during the Harvey Weinstein investigation.
Prosecutors dropped part of the sexual assault case against Weinstein on Thursday after a witness said Detective Nicholas DiGaudio had coached her to stay silent about evidence partially contradicting the account one of the film producer’s accusers.
Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea says an internal probe of the detective’s conduct began a week ago.
He says that as of now, DiGaudio has “no active role” in the Weinstein investigation but remains on duty.
A message left on a phone used by the detective in the past wasn’t returned.
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11:20 a.m.
One of the charges against Harvey Weinstein was dropped after evidence emerged that a police detective had urged a witness to keep quiet about inconsistencies in the accuser’s accounts.
Details emerged on Thursday after the court unsealed a letter that Manhattan prosecutors wrote to Weinstein’s lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, in September.
There was no immediate response from the New York Police Department.
A judge agreed on Thursday to dismiss allegations by Lucia Evans, one of three accusers in the case.
The letter also said prosecutors had recently obtained an email that Evans wrote in 2015 to the man she later married. They say that account differs from the one she provided to investigators.
It says the accuser told prosecutors that the inconsistencies may have been caused by a flawed memory.
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10:40 a.m.
Harvey Weinstein’s attorney says an accuser should be criminally prosecuted for perjury following the decision to drop part of the case against him.
A judge agreed on Thursday to dismiss allegations by Lucia Evans, one of three accusers in the case.
Weinstein’s lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, told the judge he believes Evans lied both to the grand jury and to The New Yorker about her encounter with Weinstein.
Brafman said outside court that “this is not about victim shaming.”
Evans’ attorney says the decision does not “invalidate the truth of her claims.”
Attorney Carrie Goldberg says prosecutors’ decision to “abandon” her client speaks to a system that needs to be reformed.
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10:05 a.m.
An attorney for the Harvey Weinstein accuser whose case has been dropped says it does not “invalidate the truth of her claims.”
Attorney Carrie Goldberg says in a statement that the prosecution’s decision to “abandon” her client, Lucia Evans, speaks to a system that needs to be reformed.
Manhattan’s district attorney dropped part of the criminal case against Weinstein on Thursday.
In a story published a year ago Wednesday, Evans told The New Yorker that Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex during a meeting at his office in 2004.
Remaining charges include allegations Weinstein raped a woman in 2013 and forced a sex act on a different woman in 2006.
Weinstein says he is innocent.
His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said in court that he believes Evans lied to the grand jury about what happened.
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9:50 a.m.
Manhattan’s district attorney has dropped part of the criminal case against Harvey Weinstein.
The development was announced in court on Thursday with Weinstein looking on.
A judge agreed to dismiss allegations by one of three accusers in the case, Lucia Evans.
In a story published a year ago Wednesday, Evans told The New Yorker that Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex during a meeting at his office in 2004.
Remaining charges include allegations Weinstein raped a woman in 2013 and forced a sex act on a different woman in 2006.
Weinstein says he is innocent.
His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said in court that he believes Evans lied to the grand jury about what happened.
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9:40 a.m.
Harvey Weinstein has arrived at a New York courthouse where his lawyers are trying to get the charges dismissed in his criminal case.
Judge James Burke is expected to issue rulings Thursday on defense motions assailing an indictment accusing Weinstein of rape and sexual assault.
The hearing comes a year and a day after The New Yorker first published allegations by one accuser in the case, Lucia Evans.
She says Weinstein forced her into oral sex in 2004.
Weinstein’s lawyers and prosecutors had been wrangling over the part of the indictment pertaining to Evans in recent weeks in closed-door meetings and sealed court papers.
Weinstein is also charged with raping a woman in 2013 and forcing an unwanted sex act on a woman in 2006.
He denies assaulting anyone.
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5:30 a.m.
Harvey Weinstein is set to appear before a New York judge as his lawyers try to get the charges dismissed in his criminal case.
Judge James Burke is expected to issue rulings Thursday on defense motions assailing an indictment accusing Weinstein of rape and sexual assault.
The hearing comes a year and a day after The New Yorker first published allegations by one accuser in the case, Lucia Evans.
She says Weinstein forced her into oral sex in 2004.
Weinstein’s lawyers and prosecutors had been wrangling over the part of the indictment pertaining to Evans in recent weeks in closed-door meetings and sealed court papers.
Weinstein is also charged with raping a woman in 2013 and forcing an unwanted sex act on a woman in 2006.
He denies assaulting anyone.
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