Lawyers for Harvey Weinstein disclosed Friday in newly filed court papers that his accuser accepted tickets to the producer’s movie premiere hours after the alleged attack — and hobnobbed with him there.
The victim says that Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel room the morning of March 18, 2013. But that afternoon, Weinstein’s assistant allegedly provided the accuser and her pal with tickets to a screening of “Osage County,” according to email records.
“The witness confirmed to counsel that she went to the movie screening that night with [the victim] and that they met Mr. Weinstein there,” the papers state.
Attorney Ben Brafman called this latest revelation “strong evidence” that the accuser was not attacked.
“The witness was with [the victim] hours after the alleged rape, yet [the victim] did not say anything about being raped; instead, she chose to spend the evening with her friend and her alleged rapist!” the filing says.
NYPD detectives interviewed the witness over a year ago and were aware of the compromising information — yet failed to turn it over to the defense, Brafman wrote in the papers.
Further, the motion says the accuser, who has never been named publicly “continued a consensual sexual relationship with Mr. Weinstein for years after the alleged rape.”
Brafman has asked Justice James Burke to toss the case that he describes as “riddled with serious misconduct and a rape allegation that simply cannot withstand further scrutiny.”
The accuser is one of two victims in the Manhattan indictment against the disgraced movie mogul.
The sexual assault charge that related to a third accuser, Lucia Evans, was dismissed after prosecutors disclosed she had made inconsistent statements and a detective allegedly tried to cover up evidence that undermined her claims.
Assistant DA Kevin Wilson opposed the motion to dismiss in a letter to the judge filed Friday afternoon.
The prosecutor says that the district attorney’s office had no obligation to turn over the witness’ statement because it wasn’t exculpatory and blasts Brafman for “trying the case in the press.”
In response to the defense’s disclosure that the victim attended the movie premiere, Wilson wrote, “The defendant has a misguided and antiquated view of how a rape victim should react after having been assaulted.”
Weinstein faces up to life in prison if convicted of the top charge of predatory sexual assault.