Weinstein's ex-assistant sues alleging 'endless offensive, degrading, sexually harassing' behavior

Shamed movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was sued again Thursday, this time by a former assistant who alleges she was subjected to "endless offensive, degrading, and sexually harassing actions, statements, and touching at the hands of her boss."

Sandeep Rehal, who first went public with her allegations against Weinstein in December, filed a federal lawsuit in New York Thursday accusing Weinstein, The Weinstein Company, brother Bob Weinstein and TWC human resources chief Frank Gil  of gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation under the New York City Human Rights Law.

Among other things, she asserts she was forced to procure Havey Weinstein's penile-injection medications, prepare and clean his New York apartment for his sexual encounters and escort him to sex-addiction therapy. 

"As a result of the hostile work environment caused by the incessant sexual harassment, Ms. Rehal has suffered and continues to suffer from severe emotional distress, anxiety, depression, humiliation, fear, anguish and loss of self-esteem," says the lawsuit, filed by her lawyer, Genie Harrison, a Los Angeles-based attorney who specializes in workplace sexual-harassment cases.

In an email to USA TODAY, Weinstein's spokeswoman, Holly Baird, issued a statement on his behalf: "Mr. Weinstein categorically denies these claims and his lawyers will respond in the appropriate legal forum with evidence proving they are untrue."  

Rehal began working as Weinstein's personal assistant in 2013, when she was 26, and quit in disgust in 2015. Although Weinstein warned her he was a tough guy to work for, "she could never have imagined how awful and terrifying her job would be," the lawsuit says.

"Much of Ms. Rehal’s work as an employee involved catering to Harvey Weinstein’s sexual appetites and activities, and catering to his demeaning and often abusive family members," the suit says.

The suit says Weinstein engaged in behavior that should never have been allowed in a work environment. She alleges Weinstein required her to take dictation when he was naked. He frequently groped her while she was in his car with him. He made lewd and offensive comments to her and about her in front of others. She had to clean his couch of semen stains and retrieve used condoms.

The suit asserts that the other defendants aided and abetted Harvey Weinstein in this behavior. She is seeking punitive damages to be determined at a trial. 

FacebookTwitterGoogle+LinkedIn

Harvey Weinstein scandal: Accusers step forward

 Fullscreen

Post to Facebook

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Angelina Jolie, 42, told 'The New York Times' that during the release of 'Playing By Heart,' she rejected advances by Harvey Weinstein in a hotel room. She was 23. "I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did."  Neilson Barnard, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Lupita Nyong'o, 34, wrote a lengthy column in 'The New York Times' about her experience. "Harvey led me into a bedroom — his bedroom — and announced that he wanted to give me a massage. I thought he was joking at first. He was not," Nyong'o wrote. She said Weinstein's advances continued later at a dinner in New York.  Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images for Women In Film, LA, Max Mara, and BMW

Fullscreen

Ashley Judd, 49, told 'The New York Times' that during a 1997 breakfast meeting at Weinstein's hotel room in Beverly Hills, the producer propositioned her, saying he could give her a massage or she could watch him shower. She was starring in Miramax's 'Kiss the Girls' at the time.  Cindy Ord, Getty Images for Women's Media Center

Fullscreen

Rose McGowan, 44, reached a previously undisclosed settlement with Weinstein in 2007 after an episode in a hotel room during Sundance Film Festival, 'The New York Times' reported. In 2016, she tweeted that she was raped by a studio head in 2007, but didn't identify Weinstein at the time.  Rena Laverty, AFP/Getty Images

Fullscreen

Gwyneth Paltrow, 45, told 'The New York Times' that before shooting 'Emma' when she was 22, Weinstein called her to his hotel suite for a work meeting that ended with Weinstein placing his hands on her and suggesting they head to the bedroom for massages. "I was petrified," she said.  Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Lena Headey, 44, who plays Cersei on 'Game of Thrones,' shared a series of tweets describing a 2005 incident involving "some suggestive comment, a gesture" from Weinstein. Years later, she said, he asked her personal questions about her love life before inviting her up to his hotel room.  Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Heather Graham, known for her role in 'The Hangover' films, wrote an essay for 'Variety' describing a time in the early 2000s when Weinstein allegedly insinuated that she would need to have sex with him in order to get a part. She was never hired for one of his films.  Tommaso Boddi, WireImage

Fullscreen

Mira Sorvino, 50, told 'The New Yorker' that while promoting 'Mighty Aphrodite' in 1995, Weinstein "started massaging my shoulders, which made me very uncomfortable, and then tried to get more physical." Weeks later, she says, he showed up at her apartment, but she was able to scare him off.  Michael Loccisano, Getty Images for Unbridled Eve

Fullscreen

Cara Delevingne, 25, shared on Instagram and in a statement to 'New York Magazine' and HuffPost that the producer attempted to kiss her in a hotel room. "He began to brag about all the actresses he had slept with and how he had made their careers and spoke about other inappropriate things of a sexual nature," she wrote.  Alastair Grant, AP

Fullscreen

Kate Beckinsale, 44, accused Weinstein on Instagram of offering her alcohol during their first meeting when she was just 17. "I assumed it would be in a conference room, which was very common," she wrote. "When I arrived, reception told me to go to his room. He opened the door in his bathrobe."  Theo Wargo, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Daryl Hannah, 56, told 'The New Yorker' that Weinstein sexually harassed her on two different occasions in the past decade.  Carlos Alvarez, Getty Images

Fullscreen

LÂŽea Seydoux wrote an op-ed for 'The Guardian' describing an interaction she had with Weinstein, which involved him inviting her to his hotel room for a drink and later lunging at her and attempting to kiss her.  Nicholas Hunt, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Jessica Barth, 37, told 'The New Yorker' that Weinstein invited her to a business meeting at his hotel room after the 2011 Golden Globes. Barth recalls he offered to cast her in a film and demanded a naked massage. She claims that when she went to leave, Weinstein told her she needed to lose weight "to compete with Mila Kunis."  Jason Allen, USA TODAY

Fullscreen

Annabella Sciorra told 'The New Yorker' that Weinstein violently raped her in the early 1990s and repeatedly sexually harassed her over the next several years.  Ben Gabbe, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Brit Marling shared in an essay for 'The Atlantic' that Weinstein pulled the massage proposal on her in a hotel room in 2014. "I, too, was asked if I wanted a massage, champagne, strawberries. I, too, sat in that chair paralyzed by mounting fear when he suggested we shower together," she wrote.  Evan Agostini, Invision/AP

Fullscreen

At a news conference, Louisette Geiss said Weinstein invited her to his room at Sundance Film Festival in 2008 to discuss a script she had written; he walked out wearing only a robe with the front open. He promised to greenlight her script and give her a three-picture deal. But she had to watch him masturbate first.  Emma McIntyre, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Asia Argento told 'The New Yorker' that in 1997 when she was 21, Weinstein asked for a massage and forcibly performed oral sex on her at a hotel in France.  Andreas Rentz, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Dominique Huett, 35, has filed a lawsuit against The Weinstein Company, alleging that Harvey Weinstein pressured her into sex at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills in 2010 and that his company knew about multiple allegations against him dating back to the ‘90s.  Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Minka Kelly, 37, took to Instagram to describe how Weinstein allegedly propositioned her to be his girlfriend at a meeting.  Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Ambra Battilana Gutierrez can be heard being pressured by Weinstein in audiotapes from a New York Police Department sting. In the 2015 tapes, he seemingly admits to groping the model on the previous day. Weinstein reaches a settlement with Gutierrez, according to 'The New York Times.'  Pier Marco Tacca, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Judith Godreche had breakfast with Weinstein at Cannes Film Festival in 1996, when she was 24, she tells 'The New York Times.' He allegedly lured her to his room to talk about an Oscar campaign for her film 'Ridicule.' He asked to give her a massage; she said no. “The next thing I know, he’s pressing against me and pulling off my sweater.”  Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP

Fullscreen

Katherine Kendall, 48, told 'The New York Times' that Weinstein convinced her to stop by his apartment in 1993. He came out of his bathroom in a robe, asking for a massage. She refused; he left the room and returned nude, she says. "He literally chased me," she said. "He wouldn't let me pass him to get to the door."  Damian Dovarganes, AP

Fullscreen

Mimi Haleyi, a former production assistant, says she encountered Weinstein at Cannes Film Festival in 2006 and offered her help on his productions. He told her to come by his hotel, where he suggested she massage him. Later, Weinstein orally forced himself on her while she was on her period, she said at a news conference.  Mike Coppola, Getty Images for Women's Media Center

Fullscreen

Sean Young, 57, said Weinstein exposed himself to her on the set of 1992's 'Love Crimes' during an interview on KLBJ's Dudley and Bob With Matt Show Daily Podcast. She says she "personally experienced him pulling his you-know-what out of his pants."  Andy Kropa, Invision/AP

Fullscreen

Tara Subkoff, 44, told 'Variety' that Weinstein sexually harassed her in the 1990s, recounting a time when he “grabbed” her to sit on his lap. “I could feel that he had an erection,” she recalled.  Evan Agostini, Invision/AP

Fullscreen

Mia Kirshner, 42, wrote an op-ed for 'The Globe and Mail' that alleged Weinstein harassed her in a hotel room.  Rob Kim, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Sarah Ann Masse told 'Variety' that Weinstein hugged her in his underwear and told her he loved her during an interview for a nanny job in 2008.  Albert L. Ortega, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Natassia Malthe, 43, said Weinstein barged into her London hotel room and raped her in 2008 after she met him at the BAFTA Awards. After the rape, he masturbated in front of her, she said at a news conference with attorney Gloria Allred.  Angela Weiss, AFP/Getty Images

Fullscreen

Amber Anderson posted to Instagram that Weinstein “coerced” her into a private meeting. “He behaved inappropriately and propositioned a ‘personal’ relationship to further my career whilst bragging about other actresses he had ‘helped’ in a similar way,” she wrote. “He tried to take my hand and put it in his lap.”  Dario Cantatore, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Heather Kerr, 56, read a statement at a news conference with attorney Gloria Allred, describing a 1989 encounter with Weinstein in which he exposed himself to her and told her she had to sleep with him and other Hollywood producers in order to succeed in the industry.  Frederic J. Brown, AFP/Getty Images

Fullscreen

Alice Evans wrote in 'The Telegraph' that Weinstein tried to touch and kiss her during the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. In the essay, she also claims that her rejection of Weinstein negatively impacted her acting career.  Rich Polk, Getty Images for Path2Parenthood

Fullscreen

Trish Goff told 'The New York Times' that Weinstein allegedly groped her during a lunch meeting in 2003. "When we finally stood up to go, he really started groping me, grabbing my breasts, grabbing my face and trying to kiss me," she said.  Brad Barket, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Angie Everhart came forward on the KLOS morning show, alleging Weinstein masturbated in front of her while on a boat during the Venice Film Festival. The former model and actress claims Weinstein told her, "You're a really nice girl, you shouldn't tell anybody about this.”  Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Claire Forlani took to Twitter to claim she dodged five different advances from Weinstein over the years.  Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images for Chrysalis Butterfly Ball

Fullscreen

Connie Nielsen, 52, wrote a guest column for 'Variety,' adding her name to the list of women allegedly harassed by Weinstein, who produced her 2005 film 'The Great Raid.' The actress claims the producer put his hand on her thigh during the film's opening night  Jerod Harris, Getty Images for PTTOW!

Fullscreen

Emma de Caunes told 'The New Yorker' that Weinstein invited her to his hotel room in Cannes in 2010, where he went into the bathroom and turned the shower on.He came out with an erection and demanded she lie on the bed. “It was like a hunter with a wild animal,” she said. “The fear turns him on.”  Andreas Rentz, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Florence Darel, 49, told 'People' that Weinstein pursued her in the mid ‘90s and propositioned her in a hotel room while his then-wife Eve Chilton was in the room next door.  Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Katya Mtsitouridze told 'The Hollywood Reporter' that she was harassed by Weinstein, alleging he arranged a private meeting in 2004 during Venice Film Festival, where he greeted her in a bathrobe and suggested she give him a massage.  Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Lauren Sivan says she was cornered in 2007 by Weinstein in the kitchen of a restaurant he is an investor in, according HuffPost. When she avoided his kiss, he reportedly told her to “stand there and shut up” while he masturbated and ejaculated into a nearby potted plant.  Vince Bucci, Invision/AP

Fullscreen

Lysette Anthony told ‘The Sunday Times’ that Weinstein raped her in her home in the late 1980s.  Stuart C. Wilson, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Marisa Coughlan, 43, told 'The Hollywood Reporter' that Weinstein asked her to meet at a hotel in 1999 to discuss a film role, alleging that, once she was there, he requested a massage from her.  Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Melissa Sagemiller told HuffPost that Weinstein harassed her when she was 24 and working on 'Get Over It,' which was distributed by Miramax. During a meeting in his hotel room, the producer allegedly refused to let her leave until she kissed him.  Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

Fullscreen

Romola Garai told 'The Guardian' that in 2004 during the audition process for 'Havana Nights,' she was told to arrive at Weinstein's hotel room, alone. "He answered the door in his bathrobe," she said. "I was only 18. I felt violated by it, it has stayed very clearly in my memory."  Grant Pollard, Invision/AP

Fullscreen

Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:

Replay

• 1 of 43
• 2 of 43
• 3 of 43
• 4 of 43
• 5 of 43
• 6 of 43
• 7 of 43
• 8 of 43
• 9 of 43
• 10 of 43
• 11 of 43
• 12 of 43
• 13 of 43
• 14 of 43
• 15 of 43
• 16 of 43
• 17 of 43
• 18 of 43
• 19 of 43
• 20 of 43
• 21 of 43
• 22 of 43
• 23 of 43
• 24 of 43
• 25 of 43
• 26 of 43
• 27 of 43
• 28 of 43
• 29 of 43
• 30 of 43
• 31 of 43
• 32 of 43
• 33 of 43
• 34 of 43
• 35 of 43
• 36 of 43
• 37 of 43
• 38 of 43
• 39 of 43
• 40 of 43
• 41 of 43
• 42 of 43
• 43 of 43

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Last SlideNext Slide