Getty Images/Drew Angerer(NEW YORK) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Monday that he has opened an inquiry into the Weinstein Co. to investigate claims of sexual misconduct and harassment made against co-founder Harvey Weinstein.
ABC New York station WABC has confirmed a New York Times report that Schneiderman is trying to determine whether those allegations could be indicative of discrimination and other civil rights violations.
“No New Yorker should be forced to walk into a workplace ruled by sexual intimidation, harassment or fear. If sexual harassment or discrimination is pervasive at a company, we want to know,” Schneiderman said in a statement.
According to a person familiar with the investigation, the civil rights bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office issued a subpoena today as part of an investigation into whether officials at the Weinstein Co. violated state or local laws pertaining to civil and human rights. The subpoena seeks, among other information, all documents, records and correspondence related to all complaints relating to sexual harassment or other discrimination against any employee; all documents, records and correspondence concerning how that complaint was handled; and all documents concerning management’s criteria to hire, promote, cast, select, reject or terminate applicants or employees.
More than three dozen women have accused Weinstein of harassment and sexual misconduct. Though he has admitted wrongdoing, he “unequivocally denied” any allegations of nonconsensual sex, according to a statement provided by his publicist this month.
Weinstein’s employment was terminated by the board of his namesake company almost immediately, and shortly thereafter, he tendered his resignation from the board of directors. Weinstein was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Producers Guild of America has voted to begin termination proceedings against him as well. That organization will make a final determination next month.
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