LONDON: Harvey Weinstein 's lawyer said Saturday a woman having sex with a Hollywood producer to advance her career is "not rape ", in a British newspaper interview on the eve of the Oscars. Ben Brafman is one of the US' top criminal defence attorneys, hired by the disgraced Hollywood mogul whose career is in tatters following accusations of sexual harassment, assault and rape.More than 100 women have accused Weinstein of impropriety going back 40 years, but Brafman argued there was no criminal behaviour. (Image: AFP)"If a woman decides that she needs to have sex with a Hollywood producer to advance her career and actually does it and finds the whole thing offensive, that's not rape," he told The Times. "You made a conscious decision that you're willing to do something that is personally offensive in order to advance your career," he added.Weinstein, a twice-married father of five, is being investigated by British and US police, but has not been charged with any crime. "While Weinstein will not be welcome at Sunday's Oscars ceremony, his infamous casting couch has been created by artists to mark the occasion.Plastic Jesus and Joshua Monroe created a gold sculpture of Weinstein on the couch, wearing a dressing gown and clutching an Academy Award.

Source: Economic Times March 03, 2018 12:22 UTC