Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak provided disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein with contact information for an Israeli firm that Wienstein hired to quash news stories detailing sexual assault and harassment allegations. On Monday The New Yorker magazine reported that Weinstein hired the Israeli firm Black Cube, which is staffed by former agents of the Mossad and other Israeli security agencies, to stop the publication of abuse allegations against Weinstein.
"More than a year ago, Barak was asked by Harvey Weinstein whether he knew an Israeli security company he had heard of, that could help him with business issues he faced," a spokeswoman for Barak said in a statement provided to dpa, yesterday. The statement added that Barak, who served as prime minister from 1999-2001, "was not aware" that Weinstein hired the company or the purpose for which the company was hired.
Dozens of women have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment of assault against the Hollywood producer since the first accusations were published in October. According to the New Yorker report, employees of Black Cube used false identities to obtain information from actress Rose McGowan, who later accused Weinstein of rape.
