Entertainment

Weinstein’s Lawyer Says Rape Accuser Had 10-Year Consensual Affair With His Client

(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Katie Jerkovich Entertainment Reporter
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Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Tuesday that a woman who has accused his client of rape “had a 10-year consensual sexual relationship” with his client.

“This is an extraordinary case in my judgement where the only rape victim that Mr. Weinstein is accused of raping is someone with whom he has had a 10-year consensual sexual relationship — both before and after the alleged incident,” the disgraced movie mogul’s defense attorney Ben Brafman told reporters, according to NBC News. (RELATED: Rose McGowan, Other Celebs React To Harvey Weinstein Arrest [VIDEO])

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 25: Harvey Weinstein arrives at the New York Police Department's First Precinct to turn himself in after being served with criminal charges by the Manhattan District Attorney's office on May 25, 2018 in New York City. The former movie producer faces charges in connection with accusations made by aspiring actress Lucia Evans who has said that Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him in his Manhattan office in 2004. Weinstein (66) has been accused by dozens of other women of forcing them into sexual acts using both pressure and threats. The revelations of his behavior helped to spawn the global #MeToo movement. Weinstein is carrying a biography of Elia Kazan. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Harvey Weinstein arrives at the New York Police Department’s First Precinct to turn himself in after being served with criminal charges by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office on May 25, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

“One of my concerns is…some of the publicity that has occurred over the weekend and the ability for people to keep an open mind,” he added following a closed-door meeting with the Manhattan assistant district attorney about concerns the publicity could hurt the legal process.

“I also think that pressure that is being brought to bear on the District Attorney’s Office — demanding that an indictment or a prosecution of Mr. Weinstein proceed — is inappropriate pressure, it is unprecedented and it troubles me, and I wanted to make those matters known to the court,” he added.

Last Friday, Weinstein was arrested and charged with rape, a criminal sex act, sex abuse, and sexual misconduct by New York authorities. He was later released on $1 million dollars bail, but must wear an ankle bracelet and remain only in New York or Connecticut.

He has faced accusations from more than 80 women including such stars as Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow Rose McGowan and many more following the shocking exposés last October in The New York Times and The New Yorker.