On Friday, during a press briefing, the New York City Police Department shared that Paz de la Huerta's sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein may lead to his arrest. In an article published by Vanity Fair on Thursday, de la Huerta alleged that Weinstein raped her twice in 2010. As Variety reports, the NYPD called de la Huerta's allegations "credible," and they are in the process of gathering evidence in order to potentially obtain an arrest warrant. Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce stated during the press conference, "She put forth a credible and detailed narrative to us. We then sought to garner corroboration — this happened seven years ago — and we found corroboration. We have an actual case here."
Bustle has reached out to Weinstein's rep for comment on both de la Huerta's claims and on the NYPD's investigation, but did not receive an immediate response. Weinstein's rep previously denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex in a statement to the New York Times, which reads, "Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein."
De la Huerta alleged two sexual assault incidents in the Vanity Fair article. The Boardwalk Empire actor claimed that she ran into Weinstein at the Top of the Standard bar at the Standard, High Line hotel in Manhattan in November of 2010. De la Huerta alleges that Weinstein offered her a ride home, and then insisted that he come inside for a drink. The actor then alleged he raped her. She claimed to Vanity Fair, "Immediately when we got inside the house, he started to kiss me and I kind of brushed [him] away. Then he pushed me onto the bed and his pants were down and he lifted up my skirt. I felt afraid. . . . It wasn’t consensual . . . It happened very quickly."
De la Huerta alleges that Weinstein raped her a second time in December 2010, when de la Huerta claims that Weinstein surprised in her building's lobby as she was returning home from a photo shoot. She claims that she had been drinking and was terrified of Weinstein, who she alleges had been repeatedly calling her. Weinstein allegedly "hushed" de la Huerta when she asked him to leave her alone, and then alleged followed her upstairs to her apartment where she claims he raped her.
The actor is one of more than 60 women who have come forward with allegations against Weinstein. However, her allegations could be the ones that lead the NYPD to filing charges against Weinstein. The NYPD has been investigating Weinstein since October when allegations against the producer were originally reportedly by the New York Times, but de la Huerta's case may actually lead to a warrant for his arrest.
As reported by Vanity Fair, because the alleged rapes would have taken place after June 2006, they are within New York’s statute of limitations for rape in the first degree. This, in addition to the sources de la Huerta has on her side — including reporter Alexis Faith, who, according to VF, has a recorded conversation about the allegations that the actor asked her not to publish at the time of their 2014 interview, and her therapist, SueAnne Piliero, who reportedly came forward with a letter confirming that de la Huerta discussed her allegations with her during their sessions — means that her case is an important part of the NYPD's investigation into the allegations against Weinstein.
During the press briefing, Boyce said that if Weinstein was currently in the state of New York, they "would go right away and make the arrest." However, Weinstein being out of New York state means that a warrant for his arrest is needed. New York is not the the only city that is investigating Weinstein. The police in London and Los Angeles are also investigating the producer in light of the many women who, like de la Huerta, have made allegations of harassment and assault.
