Just because media attention is now dispersed among the many other bad men polluting our society doesn’t mean things aren’t continuing to get darker for Harvey Weinstein. As of this week, he can now add “sex trafficking” to the list of claims eternally mounting against him.
British actress Kadian Noble filed a complaint in New York federal court against Weinstein on Monday morning, alleging that he sexually assaulted her in a hotel room in France around the time of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. But unlike Weinstein’s domestic offenses, this one could potentially violate federal sex trafficking statutes. According to the complaint, obtained by Deadline:
“Harvey Weinstein was able to force or coerce Kadian into sexual activity in his hotel room because of his promise to her of a film role and use of his influence on her behalf,” the unspecified damages seeking 11-page complaint that names Weinstein, along with his brother Bob Weinstein and the struggling Weinstein Company states (read it here).
“Harvey Weinstein traveled in foreign commerce, knowingly recruiting or enticing Kadian offering her something of value, knowing that he would use this offer as a means to defraud, force or coerce her into a sexual encounter, the complaint adds. “Harvey Weinstein ultimately forced Kadian into sexual acts.”
Sex trafficking is defined under federal law as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of any person “for the purpose of a commercial sex act.” A commercial sex act is considered “any sex act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person.” The suit alleges that Weinstein sexually assaulted Noble at the Cannes hotel Le Majestic, ostensibly in exchange for help with her career.
“Essentially under the statute, if a U.S. citizen goes to another country and uses force to entice a person to engage in a commercial sex act, they violate this law,” Noble’s told NBC News. “The offer to help my client with a movie role is certainly something of value. It fits, I think, squarely in the purview of the action.”
The suit also names as defendants The Weinstein Company and Weinstein’s brother Bob, on the basis that they allegedly helped cover up Weinstein’s encounters.
Currently, Weinstein is under investigation by the NYPD, the LAPD, the Beverly Hills Police and UK police.
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