Actress sues Weinstein, accusing him of sex trafficking

Disgraced movie mogul also resigns from Directors Guild of America amid continued allegations against him

LOS ANGELES (AP) —Harvey Weinstein engaged in sex trafficking by traveling to Europe and luring an aspiring actress from London to a hotel room where he sexually assaulted her, according to a new lawsuit filed against the disgraced movie producer.

The suit filed by Kadian Noble in federal court in Manhattan alleges that Weinstein went to London in 2014 and “groomed Kadian by telling her that he had a role in mind for her and that ‘it will be good for you.'” Later that year, he approached her again at the Majestic Hotel in Cannes, France, and asked her to come to his hotel room to watch her demo reel, it says.

Weinstein “knew that the promise of a role or the use of his influence on her behalf would entice Kadian into his hotel room, and knew that once there he was in a position to force the sexual activity he desired,” the suit says.

Kadian, 31, claims at one point, Weinstein put her on the phone with a Weinstein company producer who told her she “needed to be ‘a good girl and do whatever he wished,’ and if she did, then ‘they would work’ with her further,” it says. After that, it alleges he molested her and forced her into the bathroom to watch him masturbate.

The suit was filed under a sex-trafficking statute that has a 10-year limit for filing a complaint against someone who traveled to commit a sex crime through coercion. It seeks unspecified damages.

A spokeswoman for Weinstein said Monday that he “denies allegations of non-consensual sex” and “has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances.”

In recent months, a widening scandal has seen Weinstein become the target of numerous sexual misconduct allegations made by actresses, models and other alleged victims. New York police have been investigating a 2010 rape allegation that could result in criminal charges.

This combination of pictures shows US producer Harvey Weinstein and (1st row from L) US actress Rose McGowan, US actress Angelina Jolie, Italian actress Asia Argento, US actress Gwyneth Paltrow, US actress Ashley Judd; (2nd row fromL) French actress Lea Seydoux, US actress Mira Sorvino, US actress Rosanna Arquette, US actress Louisette Geiss, British actress Kate Beckinsale; (3rd row fromL) Television reporter Lauren Sivan, US actress Jessica Barth, US producer Elizabeth Karlsen, French actress Emma De Caunes, and French actress Judith Godreche (AFP PHOTO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA AND AFP PHOTO / STAFF)

Also Monday, Weinstein resigned as a member of the Directors Guild of America. A DGA representative said Weinstein resigned his membership effective Monday.

Weinstein has been expelled from a number of professional guilds and organizations, including the Producer’s Guild and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since dozens of women have come forward to accuse the movie mogul of sexual harassment or sexual assaults, including rape. His representatives have denied all accusations of non-consensual sex.

The DGA represents more than 16,000 industry professionals including directors and members of directing teams. Although Weinstein was most well-known for producing films, he has a co-directing credit on the 1986 film “Playing for Keeps” with his brother Bob Weinstein. The DGA said last month that Weinstein was facing expulsion.