Harvey Weinstein has filed a lawsuit against his brother, Bob Weinstein, and Hollywood executive David Glasser, accusing them of orchestrating a financial conspiracy that left him personally liable for a $45 million loan.
The disgraced former film mogul, currently serving a prison sentence for sex crimes, claims in the lawsuit filed Thursday that Bob and Glasser deliberately set him up to take the financial fall as part of a scheme to push him out of The Weinstein Company before its collapse.
Weinstein alleges his brother and Glasser misappropriated company funds for personal use, claiming Bob withdrew at least $6 million while Glasser awarded himself $5 million in bonuses and paid his father $1 million.
“It was shocking to discover the fraudulent transactions that went on after I left the company. I now believe that a number of these executives played a big part in my demise,” Weinstein said in exclusive audio obtained by TMZ from his cell on Rikers Island.
According to Weinstein’s lawsuit, Bob and Glasser tricked him into personally guaranteeing a $45 million loan from AI International Holdings, then diverted funds, leaving the company unable to repay the debt. As a result, Weinstein says he was left solely responsible for the massive financial burden.
The lawsuit claims that Bob and Glasser conspired to financially destroy him in an effort to take full control of The Weinstein Company. AI International Holdings sued the now-defunct company for defaulting on the loan, and Harvey’s new legal action is tied to that ongoing case.
Bob Weinstein’s attorney, Brian Kohn, dismissed the allegations, telling TMZ, “Harvey’s allegations are entirely without merit.” Glasser has yet to respond publicly to the lawsuit.