New York police said based on allegations by actress Paz de la Huerta, they are “gathering evidence” to build a rape case against Harvey Weinstein, AP News reported Friday.
De la Huerta has accused Weinstein of raping her twice in her New York apartment in 2010. She reported the rapes to police on Oct. 26, according to AP News.
Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said investigators found the Boardwalk Empire actress’ allegations credible because they were detailed down to “each and every minute” and corroborated in part by two other people.
Detectives said they have subpoenaed people in the case. Boyce said that if Weinstein were in New York and if the rape had happened more recently, the disgraced media mogul would have been arrested by now.
“If this person was still in New York, and it was recent, we’d go right away and make the arrest. No doubt,” Boyce said. “But we’re talking about a 7-year-old case. And we have to move forward gathering evidence first.”
According to AP News, police said De la Huerta didn’t come forward earlier because she “was afraid of damaging her career and wasn’t sure anyone would believe the allegations.”
New York doesn’t have a statute of limitations on rape.
Weinstein has denied “any allegations of nonconsensual sex” and checked himself into a rehabilitation facility in Arizona where he was reportedly not taking treatment seriously.
On Thursday, TMZ posted a photo of a man it said was Weinstein eating in disguise at a restaurant in Phoenix. AP News reported that an unnamed manager from Chestnut Fine Foods & Provisions confirmed Weinstein had eaten there.
More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or rape.
H/T AP News