NEW YORK _ Lawyers for disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein met with the Manhattan District Attorney's office last week, according to lawyers for actress Paz de la Huerta, who has accused Weinstein of rape.
De la Huerta's lawyer, Carrie Goldberg, questioned why the DA agreed to the meeting with Weinstein's team "before even being indicted."
Goldberg on Friday blasted Manhattan DA Cy Vance Jr. for not taking swifter action on the case _ and threatened protests unless a grand jury is convened by the end of next week.
Goldberg accused Vance of giving a pass to sexual predators and handling the "Boardwalk Empire" star's case in a "startlingly similar" way to the investigation of groping allegations brought by Filipina-Italian model Ambra Battilana in 2015.
The controversial probe two years ago resulted in no charges. In spite of recorded admissions and an apology made by Weinstein, Vance and his office declined to bring the misdemeanor sex assault and forcible touching case, citing evidence issues.
Goldberg's office said she'd heard the DA "had expressed to the NYPD their intention to stop pursuing Paz's case" but it was "later refuted when (Goldberg) spoke to" the lead prosecutor Maxine Rosenthal on Thursday.
"We are very concerned about the unbelievable similarities here with what went down in 2015 when prosecutors dropped a strong case against Weinstein," the statement said.
The DA "has copious amounts of evidence and no reason to delay indictment," the statement went on.
De la Huerta reported two incidents of rape by Weinstein to the NYPD in late October. Both allegedly occurred at her apartment. Weinstein denies the allegations.
"Consequently, we throw down the gauntlet on behalf of our client and urge (the DA) to convene a grand jury by the end of next week or expect the protests to begin," Goldberg said. "It exacts a huge emotional toll for a victim to rehash horrific memories and to subject herself to such scrutiny and exposure as is happening here with a DA that's subpoenaed her most personal therapy, phone, and financial records," Goldberg's statement read. "It would be a damn shame if they just drop the case like they did in 2015."
"Do they not believe ALL the women who have so bravely come forward?" the statement continued. "Or is there some other fear stopping the DA from punishing one of NYC's most prolific sexual predators? ... The DA must stop being complicit in Harvey Weinstein evading punishment."
Vance's office said the probe into de la Huerta's claims is ongoing.
"This remains very much an active investigation. We will decline further comment," spokeswoman Joan Vollero said.
