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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 11:26 AM Oct 2017

EXCLUSIVE: NYPD Was Ready to Arrest Harvey Weinstein in 2015 After Model Said She Was Groped

Source: The Daily Beast




How detectives laid a trap to catch the movie mogul after an Italian model accused him of groping her—and why charges were never brought.


MICHAEL DALY
10.10.17 5:00 AM ET

Harvey Weinstein had no sooner apologized to the 22-year-old woman who had accused him of groping her than he seemed ready to do it again. “After he apologized, he said, ‘Listen, come up to my room,’” an NYPD commander with direct knowledge of the case says.

Ambra Battilana excused herself to use the restroom and she was met by a detective from the special victims unit, which had been using two cellphones to record this March 28, 2015, meeting in the bar/restaurant at the Tribeca Grand Hotel in downtown Manhattan. Battilana seemed close to panic. The detective promised her that she would be safely under protective surveillance if she went along with Weinstein’s request.

Battilana agreed and headed upstairs with Weinstein. The detectives were close behind, ready to move in immediately if Weinstein tried to grope her again as she alleged he had earlier. He would have been caught in the act. But Battilana suddenly backed away and departed.

“She got scared,” the police commander says.


Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-the-nypds-sting-on-harvey-weinstein

22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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EXCLUSIVE: NYPD Was Ready to Arrest Harvey Weinstein in 2015 After Model Said She Was Groped (Original Post) DonViejo Oct 2017 OP
Buuuuuuuut, they didn't because $$$. Aristus Oct 2017 #1
You didn't read the article, right? DonViejo Oct 2017 #2
she did reach a "settlement" with him Skittles Oct 2017 #19
The moneyed elite mitch96 Oct 2017 #6
The way this is written makes it seem like there was no arrest because "she got scared." WhiskeyGrinder Oct 2017 #3
"a criminal charge is not supported Me. Oct 2017 #4
Funny how that works. Except not. WhiskeyGrinder Oct 2017 #5
He said, she said is in fact not sufficient support for a criminal charge Cicada Oct 2017 #7
What Nonsense, Of Course It Would Be Properly INvestigated Me. Oct 2017 #8
Glad you agree with me Cicada Oct 2017 #9
You Do Know They Have Him On Tape Me. Oct 2017 #10
The posted article said the lady refused to tape him Cicada Oct 2017 #14
We Will Disagree On Vance....I Hope He's Voted Out Next Time Around Me. Oct 2017 #17
Would if that apply to vote-purchasing as well. Sigh. LanternWaste Oct 2017 #12
If Barack groped Ann (he never would) quartz007 Oct 2017 #11
Uh, the victim complained to the police. Not a 3rd party hearsay construct. AtheistCrusader Oct 2017 #13
No, Ann did not say Obama groped me, that he groped her Cicada Oct 2017 #15
Re-read your own post. AtheistCrusader Oct 2017 #16
Not a good analogy JustAnotherGen Oct 2017 #20
We should not prosecute even a bad person without evidence Cicada Oct 2017 #21
Obama should not be prosecuted JustAnotherGen Oct 2017 #22
good that they were trying but Skittles Oct 2017 #18

mitch96

(13,907 posts)
6. The moneyed elite
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 11:54 AM
Oct 2017

Can and will get away with what ever they can.. Just the price of doing what's illegal..
m

WhiskeyGrinder

(22,355 posts)
3. The way this is written makes it seem like there was no arrest because "she got scared."
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 11:43 AM
Oct 2017

Reading on shows that it was actually the DA who "got scared."

But by several accounts the Manhattan district attorney’s office was still feeling the aftershocks of the disastrous Dominique Strauss-Kahn case in 2011. The French politician—then managing director of the International Monetary Fund—was accused of raping a hotel maid. The DA’s office moved to prosecute Strauss-Kahn, only to drop the charges after deciding that the witness was not sufficiently credible.

Since then, the DA had seemed to knowledgeable observers to be leery of another high-profile debacle. That worry could have only increased as prosecutors learned that Battilana had accused a wealthy elderly boyfriend in Italy of forcing her into sex when she was just 17. She had also figured in the prosecution of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, testifying that she had witnessed one of his “bunga bunga” sex parties when she was 19.

At the prospect of her now figuring as the victim in a case against a high-profile figure such as Harvey Weinstein, the DA’s office seemed to hesitate. The DA’s office asked the SVU questions and the SVU answered them and the DA’s office asked more questions that the SVU also answered.

“They knocked it around about a week, back and forth,” the NYPD commander says.

The DA’s office finally reached an official determination, following what a spokesman rightly described as “a thorough investigation.”

“After analyzing the available evidence, including multiple interviews with both parties, a criminal charge is not supported,” the spokeswoman announced.

Me.

(35,454 posts)
4. "a criminal charge is not supported
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 11:52 AM
Oct 2017

We've heard that before from Vance's office....it took the French to bring Strauss -Kahn down for prostitution. Vance has a history of not finding credible evidence when influential people are involved.

Cicada

(4,533 posts)
7. He said, she said is in fact not sufficient support for a criminal charge
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 12:21 PM
Oct 2017

If Ann Coulter told the police I met with Barack Obama, alone, and he groped me - would you agree that Mr Vance should file criminal charges against Obama?

If you do not agree Obama should be charged then why do you think Weinstein should have been charged?

He said, she said, by itself, is not grounds for a criminal charge.

Many people think that the prosecution of witches in Salem was a bad idea even though the good people of Salem were darned sure those ladies were witches. I suggest we not return to the standard of prosecution back then. Even if they were witches.

Me.

(35,454 posts)
8. What Nonsense, Of Course It Would Be Properly INvestigated
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 12:33 PM
Oct 2017

and I believe that is why the Greg Kelly case was dismissed. That, however, was not the case with Strauss-Kahn, who was later found to run a prostitution ring and settled with the maid for 1.5 mil and apparently Weinstein was an open secret, not difficult to get at the truth.

Cicada

(4,533 posts)
9. Glad you agree with me
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 02:43 PM
Oct 2017

That Mr Vance did not have evidence sufficient to criminally charge Weinstein. You suggest they charge Weinstein and LATER look to see if there was proof? I suggest that the proof be obtained BEFORE charges are filed. And my comment was limited to the situation in which the only evidence consists of contradicting statements by two people in the room.

As to Straus-Kahn, I do not know the facts and therefore have no opinion on that matter.

Millions were convinced Hillary should have been prosecuted and said the Republican Comey acted wrongly. Millions are convinced Bill Clinton should have been prosecuted for rape. They think prosecutors were corrupt.

I personally think the odds of a corrupt prosecutor corruptly deciding not to prosecute are very very small.

I think we need a lot of evidence before we decide a prosecutor corruptly chooses not to prosecute. If anything I think it almost more likely to think it burns a prosecutor up whenever an innocent man escapes the chair. Think Nancy Grace with her hair trigger for prosecution.

Me.

(35,454 posts)
10. You Do Know They Have Him On Tape
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 03:38 PM
Oct 2017

was being investigated by NYPD...the issue became a reluctant witness...but now they have plenty of witnesses.

And given the whole did not pursue the Trumps issue, over-ruling staff, because 'could not make a case' (and then taking a donation, giving it back, then taking another) added to everything else there becomes questions about Vance that won't go away.

Cicada

(4,533 posts)
14. The posted article said the lady refused to tape him
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 05:30 PM
Oct 2017

That the police were with her, wired, but that at the last minute she refused to go through with it. So no, on the matter I responded to, no, I do not know that they have tape.

I have heard a tape where he asks a woman to watch him take a shower. Here in California I do not think it is illegal to ask a woman to watch you shower. I doubt that that tape would justify Mr Vance filing criminal charges even if he knew about the tape (which I doubt). But I do think we should require Weinstein to sing the Radiohead song I am a creep on national TV. And I do believe those who say Weinstein raped them. I do hope Weinstein goes to jail for life.

But I do not fault a prosecutor who declines filing criminal charges based only on he said she said.

Me.

(35,454 posts)
17. We Will Disagree On Vance....I Hope He's Voted Out Next Time Around
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 05:40 PM
Oct 2017

"The New Yorker" reportedly obtained a tape recording of Harvey Weinstein coaxing a young actress admitting to groping a woman that was secretly captured during an NYPD sting operation. CNN is trying to confirm the authenticity of the tape with the NYPD, but the department confirms they investigated a misdemeanor sexual abuse complaint against Weinstein. His reps say they have no comment on the tape”

http://www.cnn.com/videos/cnnmoney/2017/10/10/the-new-yorker-weinstein-nypd-sting-audio-sot.hln.


“The way the interaction unfolds (listen below) is all too familiar. Weinstein, who was captured on tape through a police investigation, can be heard alternately pleading with and threatening the model, Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, citing his own influence and power while trying to diminish her.
At one point, he tells her, “I’m a famous guy.”

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/harvey-weinstein-donald-trump-sequel_us_59dcea8be4b0a8e1367f1bae

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
12. Would if that apply to vote-purchasing as well. Sigh.
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 04:06 PM
Oct 2017

"I do not know the facts and therefore have no opinion on that matter..."

Would if that apply to vote-purchasing as well... Sigh.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
13. Uh, the victim complained to the police. Not a 3rd party hearsay construct.
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 04:30 PM
Oct 2017

Try again.

If Ann Coulter told the police I met with Barack Obama, alone, and he groped me - would you agree that Mr Vance should file criminal charges against Obama?


If YOU said you met with (random person) and they groped you, it becomes a much different equation.

Cicada

(4,533 posts)
15. No, Ann did not say Obama groped me, that he groped her
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 05:38 PM
Oct 2017

I guess I wasn’t clear. If Ann told police that she met alone with Obama and Obama groped her Ann, not that he groped me Cicada - would that justify Vance bringing charges against Obama?

I vote no.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
16. Re-read your own post.
Tue Oct 10, 2017, 05:40 PM
Oct 2017
"If Ann Coulter told the police I met with Barack Obama, alone, and he groped me - would you agree that Mr Vance should file criminal charges against Obama? "

JustAnotherGen

(31,828 posts)
20. Not a good analogy
Wed Oct 11, 2017, 07:54 AM
Oct 2017

Obama would never do that.

Use Trump instead - since he wouldn't have gone for her bones - he would have gone right for the p*ssy.

Cicada

(4,533 posts)
21. We should not prosecute even a bad person without evidence
Wed Oct 11, 2017, 08:35 AM
Oct 2017

If we prosecuted people because we think they are bad people, ignoring the legal requirement that we have proof, then we will rapidly become a Tyranny. Trump would prosecute Hillary and send her to jail. We have civil liberties to protect “bad people” because our founding fathers understood that the prejudices of the majority, if not limited, would lead to injustice. The argument that Obama should not be prosecuted because he is a good person while Weinstein should be prosecuted on exactly the same evidence because he is a bad person would lead to tyranny in a very short time.

JustAnotherGen

(31,828 posts)
22. Obama should not be prosecuted
Wed Oct 11, 2017, 09:08 AM
Oct 2017

Because Obama has not done this, is not TIED to this, and all you are doing is TRYING to tie him to this 'thing' in search engines.

Knock it off - Obama should not be tried because he has NEVER been accused of doing this.

Now move it to TRUMP who is rapey and Coulter would love it if he grabbed her p*ssy meaning he couldn't be PROSECUTED either.

Why do you continue to insist on creating search engine 'hits' tying this to President Obama?

That's just plain flat out EVIL - not YOU. The action. I would never attack someone like that at DU -


OR PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!!!

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