Eight sexual assault cases added to Harvey Weinstein investigation

Former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein is being investigated for another eight cases of sexual assault, according to Los Angeles prosecutors.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Thursday that the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills police departments each had brought four investigations to prosecutors.

Ricardo Santiago said, however, no charges have been lodged yet and that the office would make its decision about whether to move forward with prosecution later.

Santiago did not provide further information about the allegations or when the cases were presented to prosecutors.

Juda Engelmayer, Weinstein’s publicist said in an email to the AP that he had “nothing to add right now.”

Last year in February, the attorney general of the US state of New York sued the Weinstein Company and Weinstein, alleging years of sexual harassment and misconduct by the disgraced film producer.

The civil suit alleged that the company's executives and board repeatedly failed to protect employees from Weinstein, Eric Schneiderman, the state’s chief legal officer, said in a statement then.

Two months later, a US court charged Weinstein with rape, sex abuse and other crimes against two women.

Weinstein was arraigned in New York Criminal Court seven months after women made allegations of sexual violence and harassment against him.

According to a statement the New York Police Department released then, Weinstein "was arrested, processed and charged with rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct for incidents involving two separate women."

“This defendant used his position, money and power to lure young women into situations where he was able to violate them sexually,” said Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi, the prosecutor.

The 66-year-old man, however, was released on a $1mn bail bond later.

Harvey Weinstein arrested, charged with rape, other sex offences

Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has been charged with rape and other sex crimes.

Actors Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Lupita Nyong’o and Ashley Judd, have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, while actors including Asia Argento, Rose McGowan and some others have accused the Oscar winner of raping them.

Weinstein will stand trial in early January in New York for allegedly raping a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on a different woman in 2006.

He, however, has pleaded not guilty and argues any sexual activity was consensual.

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