New York attorney general files lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein, The Weinstein Co.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a civil lawsuit on Sunday against The Weinstein Company and Harvey Weinstein, alleging that the disgraced movie producer sexually harassed and abused women and employees for several years, and the company's executives and board of directors knew about his misconduct but failed to act.

Since last fall, when The New York Times first reported accusations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein, more than 70 women have come forward to say they were abused by Weinstein. The Weinstein Company was in talks to sell itself to a group of investors, but this suit puts those negotiations on hold, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

In a statement, Schneiderman said he filed the lawsuit because of reports the sale could soon be finalized. "Any sale of The Weinstein Company must ensure that victims will be compensated, employees will be protected going forward, and that neither perpetrators nor enablers will be unjustly enriched," he said. Weinstein has denied the accusations.