Harvey Weinstein's lawyers want his massive, #MeToo-starting sexual assault charges thrown out.
The grand jury who indicted the Hollywood executive on sexual assault charges didn't see emails from his unnamed accuser indicating their relationship was consensual, Weinstein's lawyers say. As a result, they informed a New York court Friday that they'll seek the case's dismissal. The accuser apparently told Weinstein it "would be great to see you again," among other messages, The Associated Press reports.
The unnamed accuser apparently wrote "I love you" in an email to Weinstein four years after the alleged assault, along with sending other "exculpatory" emails, Weinstein's lawyers wrote in court filings obtained by The Daily Beast. This evidence, which "should not have been kept from the grand jury," indicates a "long-term, consensual, intimate relationship" between Weinstein and the accuser, lawyers say.
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Weinstein is facing charges of rape, criminal sexual acts, and predatory sexual assault against three women, one of whom remains anonymous and allegedly sent these emails. This attempted reversal comes a month after Weinstein first pleaded not guilty to a forcible sexual act charge, and a month before he is next due in court, Deadline says. He has maintained his innocence since first facing sexual assault allegations last October.
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