New York's attorney general has filed legal action against Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein and the Weinstein Co following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.
In court papers filed in Manhattan on Sunday, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says the Weinstein Co. "repeatedly broke New York law by failing to protect its employees from pervasive sexual harassment, intimidation and discrimination."
Schneiderman says any sale of the company "must ensure that victims will be compensated" and that employees will be protected.
Schneiderman launched a civil rights probe into the New York City-based company in October after The New York Times and The New Yorker exposed allegations of sexual assault and harassment spanning decades. The company later fired Weinstein.
Telephone and email messages seeking comment from Weinstein were not immediately returned.
Weinstein later fired back at the lawsuit arguing that he has become a "scapegoat" for Hollywood's treatment of women.
In a statement, Weinstein's attorney Ben Brafman contends that a "fair investigation" by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman "will demonstrate that many of the allegations against Harvey Weinstein are without merit."
