LA police send Weinstein sex assault cases to prosecutors

POLICE in Los Angeles have submitted three sexual assault cases against disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein to prosecutors, the District Attorney's Office said on Thursday.
"Three cases were presented to our office on Feb 1 by the Los Angeles Police Department regarding Mr. Weinstein and are under review," spokesman Greg Risling said in a statement, without offering further details.
The office is also believed to be reviewing two other possible cases previously submitted by the Beverly Hills Police Department.
Dozens of Hollywood women – including Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Beckinsale and Salma Hayek – have accused Weinstein of acts ranging from sexual harassment to rape.
The veteran producer, who is reportedly in treatment for sexual addiction as he faces parallel investigations by police in New York and London, has repeatedly denied having non-consensual sex.
The scandal touched off a deluge of allegations against powerful men in entertainment, politics and the media, forcing many industries to re-examine workplace policies.
Actress Uma Thurman, linked to Weinstein's Miramax studio through her iconic roles in Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, became his latest accuser on Saturday, alleging that he tried to "shove himself" on her and expose himself.
LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in November she had created a specialised task force to evaluate cases of "sexual abuse in the entertainment industry".
She said the team included specialist sex crimes prosecutors who would review cases to determine if criminal charges were warranted.
Accusations of sexual assault have continued to pour in since investigations in The New York Times and The New Yorker last year exposed a series of accounts of sexual predation by the film tycoon.
British police are investigating sexual assault allegations brought by nine women against Weinstein, according to various media reports. — AFP