Manhattan DA's Handling Of Weinstein Sex Case Protested By Women's Advocates

LOWER MANHATTAN, NY — Outraged women protested outside Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance's office Friday following news that the city's lead prosecutor decided not to prosecute film mogul Harvey Weinstein over allegations he groped a model in 2015.

Vance become embroiled in the burgeoning Weinstein scandal after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment and abuse. The NYPD handed a dossier to Vance's office including a recording of Weinstein apparently admitting to grouping the model in New York two years ago but it was decided not to prosecute, with Vance saying there was insufficient evidence.

Leaders with the National Organization for Women (NOW) lambasted the DA's lack of action at the protest Friday.

"Let's be really clear about something: The district attorney absolutely had enough evidence to prosecute Harvey Weinstein," Jane Manning, Now-NY's advocacy director, said on Friday.

Weinstein has faced accusations from women who have said he harassed or assaulted them since the New York Times and the New Yorker first published reports of allegations against the producer in the last ten days. Three women told the New Yorker that Weinstein raped them.

Weinstein has denied accusations of rape and has said he will voluntarily go to a sex rehabilitation center. He was fired from his namesake company shortly after the news reports were published. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

The model accused Weinstein of groping her in the city in 2015. She said that, during a private meeting in Weinstein's office, the producer lunged at her, groping her breasts and trying to put a hand up her skirt.

After reporting the incident to police, NYPD detectives had Gutierrez wear a wire and record a subsequent conversation with Weinstein. In the audio, published by the New Yorker, Weinstein can be heard saying that he was "used to that" and that he "won't do it again" when Gutierrez said she felt uncomfortable over their previous interaction.

The International Business Times later reported that Vance accepted a $10,000 campaign donation from Weinstein's lawyer shortly after his office dropped the case.

NOW-NY's president, Sonia Ossorio, faulted Vance's office for how it handled the case.

"District Attorney Vance'e decision not to prosecute Weinstein raises grave concerns over how sexual assault cases in general are handled in Manhattan and whether the rich and famous are able to use their influence and money to get away with this crime," Ossorio said.

Joan Vollero, a spokeswoman for Vance's office, defended the prosecutor's record on crimes against women. She cited the office's sex crimes unit and the money allocated by Vance to work through a backlog of untested rape kits

"The DA’s commitment to victims of sex crimes is unmatched," Vollero said in a statement.

"Our office has strongly encouraged any new potential victims to come forward. We intend to work jointly with our partners in the NYPD on any subsequent investigations that emerge. When our office's ability to prosecute these types of cases is inaccurately called into question, it serves to dissuade potential victims from coming forward and reporting crimes to law enforcement."

NOW-NY applauded the NYPD's handling of the model's case.

"Thank you NYPD for a job well done," Manning, the group's advocacy director, said on Friday. "We want to see more of exactly this kind of great work."

The NYPD and Vance's office have squabbled over the incident since the news reports were published. The chief assistant district attorney said in statement that NYPD investigators planned the sting operation "without our knowledge or input." The NYPD countered that the case was investigated by "experienced detectives and supervisors from NYPD's Special Victims Unit" who used "well established investigative techniques."

The NYPD has confirmed that it is conducting a review to see if there are additional complaints about Weinstein in the wake of the news reports.

Vance is the only major-party candidate running for election in November. Marc Fliedner has launched a write-in campaign to oppose Vance, although the validity of his campaign is unclear because he lives in Brooklyn.

Image credit: Mary Altaffer / AP Photo. Picture: Manhattan district attorney Cy Vance.