Harvey Weinstein Seeks Emails He Says Will Help Him 'Defend Himself' in Court

Harvey Weinstein at the 87th Academy Awards in 2015 / Photo: AMPAS

Harvey Weinstein filed court papers in Delaware bankruptcy court on Friday seeking emails from The Weinstein Co. that his lawyers say will help him defend himself in civil proceedings and criminal investigations.

“It is critical that Mr. Weinstein be granted access to e-mails relevant to the certain civil proceedings and criminal investigations and that are in the Debtors’ possession, as they were sent or received by his TWC e-mail accounts,” the papers read. “The Debtors’ continued refusal to permit Mr. Weinstein to access these emails has significantly impinged his ability to effectively defend himself from these allegations and is a continuing deprivation of his due-process rights.

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“In addition, Mr.Weinstein’s inability to defend himself could result in additional liability for the Debtors.”

The Weinstein Co. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March in an attempt to rescue the indie film and TV studio after dozens of women accused Weinstein of sexual assault and harassment.

Weinstein is currently under criminal investigation in at least four jurisdictions, including New York, Los Angeles and London, as the company he founded preps to sell-off assets in order to pay back its creditors.

Weinstein has continuously denied any criminal wrongdoing.

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The request made by Weinstein and his lawyers is suppose to help him “exonerate himself,” according to the court documents. He says each jurisdiction has reached out, requesting to meet him and his counsel.

Weinstein says in the motion that he has repeatedly asked for emails he sent and received, as well as other personal files, in order to hand over to authorities.

The Weinstein Co. did give the producer and his team a handful of emails initially, but Weinstein says in the filing that the company has refused to provide any more emails or personal files.

Representatives for The Weinstein Co. did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s requests for comment.

Also Read: Inside the Weinstein Company's Bloody Bankruptcy - and What Happens Next

“There is no justifiable reason for TWC to withhold communications that would assist in his defense,” the court papers state. “To put it bluntly, TWC, and its counsel, may be knowingly withholding e-mails that may exonerate Mr. Weinstein.”

Pamela Chelin contributed to this reporting.

11 Film and TV Projects Left in Limbo From Weinstein Company Bankruptcy (Photos)

The bankruptcy of The Weinstein Company leaves a number of interesting projects across film and TV in limbo, some awaiting release and others still in development. What will be their fate?
"The Current War"

After making its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's Thomas Edison biopic starring Benedict Cumberbatch was originally scheduled for an awards-friendly December 2017 release before getting pushed.
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"The War With Grandpa"

Starring Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman and Oakes Fegley, The Weinstein Company unloaded the completed family film to its producers Marro Media Co. for $2.5 million.
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"The Six Billion Dollar Man"

Mark Wahlberg was set to star in a remake of the '70s TV series starring Lee Majors. The rights to the project directed by Damián Szifron was sold to Warner Bros. for $7.2 million.
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"Mary Magdalene"

This Biblical drama directed by "Lion's" Garth Brooks and starring Rooney Mara as Mary Magdalene and Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus Christ was just released on March 16 in the U.K. by Focus Features.
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"The Upside"

"The Upside" is a remake of the French drama "The Intouchables" and stars Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart. It made its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and was originally scheduled to be released in March.
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Untitled David O. Russell Project

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"Polaroid"

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"Fahrenheit 11/9"

Michael Moore's follow up to "Fahrenheit 9/11" concerns the 2016 election of Donald Trump. TWC, which had previously distributed "Fahrenheit 9/11," acquired it in May. The project is still in production.
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"Hotel Mumbai"

"Hotel Mumbai" is a thriller starring Armie Hammer and Dev Patel based on a 2009 documentary, "Surviving Mumbai" about the deadly terror attack on the Indian city. The Weinstein Company acquired it in May of 2016.
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"Project Runway"

Lifetime sources tell TheWrap that shooting a new season of "Project Runway" is currently up in the air because of TWC's financial and PR problems. Further, Weinstein's estranged wife Georgina Chapman is a judge on a current and upcoming season of "Project Runway: All Stars," both of which were shot prior to the sexual assault allegations becoming public.

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"Scream"

The Weinstein Company has a credit on the MTV adaptation of the horror franchise "Scream," with a third, unaired season already completed. It's been over a year since the show aired, and the new season does not have an air date.
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“The Current War,” “Hotel Mumbai” and “The Upside” are among TWC’s unreleased work

The bankruptcy of The Weinstein Company leaves a number of interesting projects across film and TV in limbo, some awaiting release and others still in development. What will be their fate?

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