The embattled Hollywood producer engaged a firm staffed by former Israeli secret service agents to uncover information regarding mounting claims of sexual assault and abuse.
By: World Israel News Staff
On Monday, The New Yorker published a lengthy feature detailing film executive Harvey Weinstein’s efforts to track and investigate actresses, journalists and other individuals with information related to sexual assault and rape accusations. Among the acclaimed actresses that have leveled these accusations are Rose McGowan and Anna Sciorra, in addition to a number of other women who have made public their interactions with the well-known Hollywood producer.
According to The New Yorker, Weinstein hired private investigators from a firm called Black Cube, including individuals described as “ex-Mossad agents,” who developed an elaborate ruse and background story to gain the confidence of McGowan. The investigators apparently sought to glean information regarding both the accusations themselves and details related to a report slated to appear in the New York Times.
One such investigator apparently intimated that she herself had an allegation against Weinstein in order to gain entree to journalists investigating the matter. Other tactics reportedly included using journalists to directly solicit information from alleged Weinstein victims.
Ultimately, The New Yorker report maintains that Weinstein’s goal was to suppress allegations of sexual harassment and assault. As evidence of this plan, the report refers to a July 2017 contract between Weinstein and Black Cube with the stated aim of stopping the publication of abuse allegations that eventually were published in The New Yorker and the New York Times.
Black Cube lists branches in Tel Aviv, London, and Paris on its website, which describes its operatives as “highly experienced and trained in Israel’s elite military and governmental intelligence units.”