In recent weeks, Los Angeles investigators have obtained “new evidence” against industrial rocker Marilyn Manson in connection with rape allegations from the former “Game of Thrones” actress, who first accused him of cheating in 2021. did.
District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement that they are “carefully considering new leads and additional evidence.”
But news of the reopened investigation comes as Manson accuser Esme Bianco, who played Ross on Game of Thrones, said embattled prosecutors had “mishandled” her charges from the beginning. This was first reported after the company had made its claims public.
“Mr. Gascón is not stupid. He knows he is far behind in the polls and is likely to lose within weeks,” said Neema Rahmani, a Los Angeles-based trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor. says Mr. “That's why he's now talking about high-profile cases like Manson and the Menendez brothers, even though he's had years of evidence.”
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Marilyn Manson appears in Belknap Superior Court in Laconia, New Hampshire, on September 18, 2023. Manson is accused of approaching a videographer, spitting on him and blowing his nose at a 2019 concert in New Hampshire. accused. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Bianco filed a lawsuit against Manson (real name Brian Warner) in 2021, accusing him of violent sexual assault, human trafficking and abuse. The 55-year-old rock star denied the allegations through his lawyer, saying they were “possibly false” and settled the matter out of court last year.
At a rally in front of Gascón's office last week, he accused Gascón of letting the case go for two years without making a decision on whether to press charges, and said he will face off against Gascón in next month's election. He supported independent candidate Nathan Hockman.
“Almost four years ago, I did what a rape victim 'should' do: I went to the police,” she said. “I described in painful detail how Brian Warner, the musician known as Marilyn Manson, raped and abused me during our relationship. A thorough investigation was conducted and hundreds of thousands of Even though evidence has been turned over to the District Attorney's Office, I'm still waiting for justice.''Meanwhile, I've been receiving death threats, and my abuser continues to perform in public. . ”
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Esme Bianco attends the Game of Thrones season 8 premiere at Radio City Music Hall on April 3, 2019 in New York City. (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
Gascón has pushed back, claiming he has new evidence in the case, but critics have questioned the timing as Election Day draws nearer, and he believes crime victims, law enforcement and the next He faces criticism from dozens of whistleblowers in his own office who supported Hochman in the election. election.
“The experienced prosecutors in our Office's Sex Crimes Unit are carefully reviewing new leads and additional evidence that continues to be of interest in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department investigation,” Gascon said in a statement. “New evidence has come to light in recent weeks and will be added to the already extensive case file submitted to our office by LASD.”
Prosecutors said they have not yet decided whether the new evidence is sufficient for charges.
He said senior officials from his firm had met with Bianco and other accusers, but that it would be “inappropriate” for him to do so himself.
Last week, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon announced “new evidence” related to the rape charges against rock star Marilyn Manson. (Myung Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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“We have received requests from victims to meet privately to discuss this case. However, as the case is under investigation, it would be inappropriate for me as the District Attorney to meet with the victim at this time.” '' he said. “We will make a decision on the application shortly and will provide an update when that time comes. At that time, I will meet with the victims and discuss how my office can continue to support them. I look forward to discussing whether this is possible.”
Current and former prosecutors in and outside of Gascón's office said his inferences about communications with victims were untrue.
Rahmani told Fox News Digital: “That statement is not true because I represent a rape victim and have personally met with deputy district attorneys from the Los Angeles County Prosecutor's Office regarding the rape investigation.” .
Evan Rachel Wood and Marilyn Manson got engaged in 2010. (Scott Wintrow)
John Lewin, lead case prosecutor at LADA's office, said if Gascón truly believed that his moral standing would be in any way compromised by meeting the victim, he would not have decided to prosecute. He said all you need to do is avoid involvement.
“The idea that it is unethical for the DA's office to meet with victims is absurd,” he said. “We meet with victims all the time.”
Manson has also been accused of sexual and physical abuse by other women, including his ex-fiancée, actress Evan Rachel Wood, and a woman who was 16 years old at the time of the alleged assault. Some claims have already been rejected in court.
His legal troubles also led to him being sentenced to 20 hours of community service in New Hampshire for allegedly blowing his nose at a videographer.
Marilyn Manson performs at the 2019 Aftershock Festival at Discovery Park on October 12, 2019 in Sacramento, California. (Mikka Scafari/Film Magic)
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Gascón's critics say there are thousands of other low-profile cases involving women in similar cases of abuse that have not received media attention.
“Gascón doesn't know how to manage an office the size of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, so thousands of cases are never even reviewed,” said Hochman, a former assistant U.S. attorney. “Hundreds of women who were victims of unspeakable crimes are now deprived of their time in court because of Mr. Gascón.”
