Glasser's ouster is the latest bombshell in the long saga of Weinstein Co.

, which has
been scrambling to stay afloat since Weinstein was accused of sexual harassment and
assault by dozens of women. The allegations have led to criminal investigations against
the producer in multiple cities and sparked a movement across the entertainment and
media industry to expose powerful men who have been accused of sexual misconduct.
Weinstein, who was fired by the board Oct. 8, has denied all allegations of
nonconsensual sex.

 Sexual Misconduct

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The attorney general's lawsuit dealt a serious blow to a potential $500-million deal to
sell Weinstein Co. in what had been viewed as a Hail Mary play to save the company
from bankruptcy.

The company had been nearing a sale to a group of investors led by former Obama
administration official Maria Contreras-Sweet, who promised to remake the studio as a
female-friendly company. The deal was expected to be announced this week. Glasser
was one of the staunchest advocates for the deal, even as it came under criticism by the
attorney general, according to people close to the bidding process.

Schneiderman's office on Sunday filed a 38-page complaint detailing a hostile work

environment for women at Weinstein Co. and accusing management and the board of
being complicit in Weinstein's abuses of power. He said a deal would unjustly reward
current management by keeping them in their positions. Glasser was poised to be named
chief executive of the company after the transaction was completed, according to people
close to the deal.

"The COO David Glasser, who supervised the human resources department, did not
stop this discrimination, harassment and abuse, even though he was in charge of
handling dozens of shocking complaints," Schneiderman said at a news conference after
filing the complaint.

Schneiderman accused Weinstein Co. leadership, including Glasser, of doing nothing to

protect women from Weinstein. His civil complaint, filed in New York state Supreme
Court in Manhattan, named Harvey Weinstein, his brother Bob Weinstein and the
Weinstein Co. as defendants.