Weinstein Sued By Six Women For Cover Up Of Sexual Misconduct

NEW YORK, NY — Harvey Weinstein, facing an onslaught of sexual assault and misconduct accusations after The New York Times published stories of abuse going back decades, may yet face legal sanction for his actions. On Wednesday, six women filed a lawsuit against the movie mogul, seeking to represent a class of "dozens, if not hundreds" of women who say they were assaulted by him.

The lawsuit was filed at a federal court in New York claims that his actions to cover up the assaults amounted to civil racketeering.

The lawsuit claims that a coalition of companies and people became part of the growing "Weinstein Sexual Enterprise" and that they worked with Weinstein to conceal his widespread sexual harassment and assaults.

"The Weinstein Sexual Enterprise had many participants, grew over time as the obfuscation of Weinstein's conduct became more difficult to conceal," the suit said.

A lawyer for Weinstein declined comment.

According to the lawsuit, actresses and other women in the film industry were lured to industry events, hotel rooms, Weinstein's home, office meetings or auditions under the pretense that they were to discuss a project.

At least 75 women have come forward in the media to detail accounts of assault, harassment and inappropriate conduct by Weinstein.

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