Harvey Weinstein's Legal Team Adds Alan Dershowitz as Consultant

Fox

Harvard law professor and political commentator Alan Dershowitz has joined Harvey Weinstein’s legal team as a consultant in a case involving the disgraced mogul’s lawsuit against The Weinstein Company, according to court documents obtained by TheWrap.

Weinstein has sued to obtain old emails he sent before he was fired last October as CEO of The Weinstein Company, saying that the emails will “exonerate himself.”

Authorities in London, New York and Los Angeles have launched criminal investigations into Weinstein over accusations of sexual assault. He also faces multiple civil lawsuits alleging misconduct, including one filed by Ashley Judd earlier this week claiming defamation, sexual harassment and a violation of California’s fair business laws.

The mogul has repeatedly denied that he ever engaged in nonconsensual sex.

Also Read: Weinstein Co. Seeks to Depose Group Supporting Harvey Weinstein Accusers

In a declaration filed in Delaware on Thursday, Dershowitz announced that he would be serving as a consultant to Weinstein’s lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, and that he is willing to provide a memorandum in support of Weinstein and his legal team receiving access to his TWC emails.

“On information and belief, it is my professional opinion that Mr. Brafman has the right to see and review these emails in order to prepare his constitutionally-mandated role as counsel to Mr. Weinstein,” Dershowitz said. “…these emails contain information which is exculpatory of Mr. Brafman’s client and places the allegations against him in a truthful context.”

Also Read: Lantern Capital Wins Weinstein Co. in Bankruptcy Court

Last month, CNN reported that Dershowitz was invited to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump.

Dershowitz has become known for defending Trump on CNN and Fox News and opposing special counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation into possible ties between Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia.

When asked by the Boston Globe if he would join Trump’s legal team, Dershowitz said he wasn’t interested.

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

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.
Toronto International Film Festival
"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.
Amazon
"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.
Getty Images
"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.
Focus Features
"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.
The Weinstein Company
Untitled David O. Russell Project

Amazon cut ties with The Weinstein Company back in October and canceled a planned series from David O. Russell that was set to star Robert De Niro and Julianne Moore.
"Polaroid"

“Polaroid,” a low-budget horror film from Bob Weinstein’s Dimension Films genre division, is listed in court filings among The Weinstein Company's assets, but it isn't listed as an “unreleased picture.”
Dimension Films
"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.
Getty Images
"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.
The Weinstein Company
"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.

Lifetime
"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.
MTV

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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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