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US-ASSAULT-HARASSMENT-ARGENTO
Weinstein accuser Asia Argento paid teen who made sex assault claim: report
WASHINGTON, Aug 20, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Italian actress Asia Argento, who
became a leading figure in the #MeToo movement after accusing powerhouse
producer Harvey Weinstein of rape, paid hush money to a man who claimed she
sexually assaulted him when he was 17, The New York Times reported Sunday.
The $380,000 payment was made to Jimmy Bennett, an actor and rock musician,
who claimed Argento assaulted him in a California hotel room in 2013,
according to the Times, which cited documents sent to the paper by an
unidentified party.
Bennett was two months past his 17th birthday at the time of the alleged
encounter while Argento was 37. The legal age of consent in California is 18.
The newspaper said it had tried repeatedly without success to get a comment
on the matter from Argento and her representatives.
The terms of the deal including a payment schedule were finalized in April
this year, according to the documents seen by the Times.
Three people familiar with the case told the paper the documents were
authentic.
Argento’s lawyer Carrie Goldberg described the money as “helping Mr
Bennett,” lamenting that the actress had to deal with people “who preyed on
both your strengths and your weaknesses.”
Bennett’s lawyers had characterized the hotel encounter as a “sexual
battery” that traumatized the former child actor, threatening his mental
health and income.
His notice of intent to sue sought $3.5 million in damages for “intentional
infliction of emotional distress, lost wages, assault and battery,” the paper
said.
Argento became a powerful voice for the #MeToo movement after accusing
Weinstein of raping her when she was 21 in his hotel room in 1997 during the
Cannes film festival.
Bennett’s legal action was launched a month after Argento’s accusations
against Weinstein were made public, the Times said.
She made an emotional speech at this year’s festival, telling the audience:
“Things have changed. We are not going to allow you to get away with it.”
BSS/AFP/GMR/0830 hrs