Lawyer Lisa Bloom Resigns As Adviser To Harvey Weinstein After Dramatic Accusations Of Sexual Harassment

Harvey Weinstein (l), Lisa Bloom (m), Bloom's mother, lawyer and prominent activist representing accusers in sexual harassment cases Gloria Allred. 

The lawyer Lisa Bloom said on Saturday that she is no longer representing disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, who is facing allegations of rampant sexual harassment detailed in a dramatic expose written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey andpublished by the New York Times. 

Bloom's announcement came one day after a third of the all-male board of directors resigned, leaving the remaining board members to announce that they had hired an outside law firm to investigate the allegations and that Mr. Harvey Weinstein had taken an indefinite leave of absence. 

“As Harvey has said, it is important for him to get professional help for the problems he has acknowledged,” said a statement signed by four board members, Bob Weinstein, Tarak Ben Ammar, Lance Maerov and Richard Koenigsberg. “Next steps will depend on Harvey’s therapeutic progress, the outcome of the Board’s independent investigation, and Harvey’s own personal decisions.”

Bob Weinsten, the company's co-chairman and David Glasser, the president and chief operating officer remain in charge of the company. 

Lisa Bloom, Gloria Allred's daughter, and a lawyer herself in sexual harassment cases, astounded women with her low-key response to allegations against her client. To have any credibility in this area, a lawyer must maintain consistency. The fact that Harvey Weinstein is a huge fundraiser in the Democratic party cannot be a reason for him to get an easy pass in these decades-long rumors about Weinstein and at least eight settlements, as reported by the Times. 

If Harvey Weinstein and Fox News are in the same showboat, let them sink together. 

George Stephanopoulos on the ABC News program “Good Morning America” asked Bloom about the report on Friday. 

“This is a real pattern over 30 years; this is like textbook sexual harassment,” Mr. Stephanopoulos said, after describing the allegations.

“It’s gross, yeah,” Ms. Bloom replied.

“It’s illegal,” Mr. Stephanopoulos said.

“Yes. You know, I agree,” Ms. Bloom said. “See, you have to understand that, yes, I’m here as his adviser. I’m not defending him in any sexual harassment cases — there aren’t any sexual harassment cases. I’m working with a guy who has behaved badly over the years, who is genuinely remorseful, who says, you know, ‘I have caused a lot of pain.’”

Reached by The Times for additional comment on Friday, Ms. Bloom said: “The New York Times allegations if true would constitute sexual harassment. However, Mr. Weinstein denies many of them and was not given a fair opportunity to present evidence and witnesses on his side.”