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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 2018)
NATION Thursday, October 18, 2018 East Oregonian Page 7A New accusation of police wrongdoing in Weinstein case By MICHAEL R. SISAK AND TOM HAYS Associated Press NEW YORK — The sex- ual assault case against Har- vey Weinstein was roiled Wednesday for the sec- ond time in a week by what New York City prosecutors said was a police detective’s improper conduct. Det. Nicholas DiGaudio, whose alleged witness coaching prompted the dis- missal of part of the case last week, is now accused of urging one of Weinstein’s accusers to delete material from her cellphones before she handed them over to prosecutors. The Manhattan district attorney’s office detailed the alleged misconduct in a let- ter to Weinstein’s lawyer that was made public Wednes- day. The new allegations involve the detective’s inter- actions with an unidentified woman who says Weinstein raped her in his Manhattan hotel room in 2013. Weinstein’s lawyer, Ben- jamin Brafman, pounced on the revelation, saying it “even further undermines the integrity of this already deeply flawed indictment of Mr. Weinstein.” In her letter, Assistant District Attorney Joan Illu- zzi-Orbon said that during the investigation, prosecu- tors asked the woman to hand in any mobile phones she might have used during the time when she interacted with Weinstein. The woman was will- ing to do so, Illuzzi-Orbon wrote, but was worried that the phones contained, “in addition to communications with the defendant, data of a personal nature that she regarded as private.” She asked DiGaudio what to do. He advised her to delete anything she didn’t want anyone else to see before handing over the phone, the prosecutors said. “We just won’t tell Joan,” DiGaudio allegedly said. Illuzzi-Orbon said the woman didn’t delete any information and instead asked a lawyer for advice. The phones were turned over “without any deletions” Illuzzi-Orbon wrote. The lawyer hired by the woman contacted the dis- trict attorney’s office about the detective’s conduct on Oct. 10. Weinstein was initially charged in New York with attacking three women. The part of the case involving one of those alleged vic- tims, Lucia Evans, was dis- missed last week after pros- ecutors said that DiGaudio had advised a witness to keep quiet about doubts whether Evans’ alleged sex- ual encounter with Wein- stein was consensual. DiGaudio’s union defended his conduct. “A woman should not have to surrender confiden- tial intimate information that’s immaterial to the case to defend herself against a sexual predator. That’s being victimized twice. Detective DeGaudio was sensitive to that,” Detectives’ Endow- ment Association President Michael Palladino said in a statement. “This appears to be just another smear campaign against Detec- tive DeGaudio to cover up the Manhattan DA’s own incompetence.” Three of the five remain- ing criminal charges against Weinstein stem from the alleged rape. Two other charges allege he performed a forcible sex act on a differ- ent woman in 2006. Weinstein denies all alle- gations of nonconsensual sex. NYPD Deputy Commis- sioner Phil Walzak said: “The evidence against Mr. Weinstein is compelling and strong. The NYPD will con- tinue its work with the pros- ecution to deliver justice for the courageous survi- vors who have bravely come forward.” DiGaudio was one of two investigators who escorted Weinstein out of a police station and into court after his May arrest. Before that, he and other police officials poured on the pressure for prosecutors to bring charges, saying publicly that they believed they had gathered ample evidence to make an arrest. AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File In this May 25, 2018 file photo, NYPD Detective Nicholas DiGaudio, right, escorts Harvey Weinstein into court in New York. FIRST ANNUAL Community Meeting William F. Bell, M.D. TAKING NEW PATIENTS Orthopedics Clinic 3001 St. Anthony Way Suite #125 Pendleton, OR 97801 541-966-0535 With sfecial guest sfeake-, Joe Piscatella, autho- of 16 best-selling books, host of th-ee PBS television sfecials, a “guest exfe-t” on WebMD, and a membe- of the NIH Exfe-t Panel on Ca-diac Rehabilitation. www.sahpendleton.org EDUCATION: Northwestern University School of Medicine BOARD CERTIFICATION: Board Certifi ed, American Board of Orthopedics INSURANCE ACCEPTED: Most major insurances, Medicare, Medicaid SPECIAL SERVICES: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Good Shepherd Health Care System cordially invites you to our 1st Annual Community Meeting and Wednesday, October 24, 2018 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Health Fair. Join us for Hermiston Community Center 415 S. Hwy 395 Hermiston, OR 97838 an evening of fun, food, raffle prizes, and most importantly, learn about the positive impact GSHCS is having on the communities RSVP 541.667.3509 Or register on Eventbrite at https://gshcsevent.eventbrite.com they serve. St. Anthony Clinic 3001 St. Anthony Way Pendleton, Oregon www.sahpendleton.org For more information, call 1-800-962-2819 2x3 EXAMPLE Celebrate your loved ones in our We are so proud of you for serving your country. VETERANS DAY TRIBUTE Free Example: Honoring those who have served and those who are currently serving our country! They’ve served our country with courage and honor. They’ve left behind loved ones to risk their lives while protecting our country. They’ve defended our freedoms and ideals. They make us proud to be Americans. Help us honor them. SALUTE E Love We Evelyn, are so Joe and proud of you Cheryl for serving your country. J OSEPH B. D AVIS Staff Sergeant Joel Davis US Marines Veteran This special section will print in the Hermiston Herald on Nov. 7, 2018 and in the East Oregonian on Nov. 10, 2018. There is NO CHARGE to be included. Bring us or send in photos of servicemen, servicewomen or veterans, along with the information in the form to the right, by November 1, 2018. 1x4 EXAMPLE J OSEPH S MITH Thank you for your service! Love Evelyn, Joe and Cheryl If you’d like to purchase a larger space to include a special message, border, flags, or stars and stripes, rates are $40 for a 1x4” space or $60 for a 2x3” space. Private party only. Please call 1-800-962-2819. Love always Marcy, Julie & Emily Service Person’s Name Military Branch Your Name Your Address Your Phone Number Military Rank Currently Serving Veteran (Check One) Deliver to: East Oregonian 211 SE Byers Ave. • Pendleton, OR or e-mail to classifieds@eastoregonian.com