MANHATTAN — An Italian model who accused Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein of groping her in his office has been unfairly smeared by tabloid backlash as authorities mull whether to charge the movie mogul, her lawyer said.
Ambra Battilana, 22, who has been interviewed by the NYPD Special Victims investigators and the Manhattan DA’s Sex Crime Bureau, has been accused by unnamed sources of trying to "blackmail" Weinstein, her lawyer said.
"I wish to state unequivocally, on behalf of the unfortunate victim, that there absolutely was no attempt of blackmail, and in fact, making such a false allegation adds insult to injury causing a duplicity of victimization," her lawyer Mark Jay Heller said in a statement.
"Regrettably, like many sex crime victims, she is being inappropriately branded and persecuted for coming forward to report an act of sexual abuse perpetrated against her, and that is why many victims avoid reporting such crimes to the police..."
She told police last Friday that she was showing the film producer her modeling and acting portfolio at his office inside the Tribeca Film Center at 375 Greenwich St. at around 6 p.m. when Weinstein began to run his hands over her breasts and thighs.
She told him to stop and contacted the police shortly after the incident, sources say.
Weinstein, who with his brother Bob co-founded the former Miramax Company, and produced blockbusters including “Chicago,” “Gangs of New York,” “Shakespeare In Love,” “Good Will Hunting” and “Pulp Fiction,” has not been charged. Sources said authorities haven't decided whether or not to bring charges against him. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office declined to comment further on the status of the investigation.
Reps for Weinstein said, “We are cooperating fully with the authorities, and are confident that we will be fully vindicated. We will have no further comment.”
