NYPD to reexamine allegations against Harvey Weinstein

NEW YORK -- (WPIX) -- The NYPD chief of detectives has ordered the Special Victims Unit to take another look at some claims of sex crimes against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance is having to answer why charges were never filed.

Vance said a political contribution never influenced his job to uphold the law.

He's making that claim after reporters asked him why he failed to prosecute Harvey Weinstein, especially with accusations from an Italian actress that Weinstein forced himself on her while in New York. She wore a wire to record her confrontation with Weinstein.

Harvey Weinstein's lawyer donated money to the D.A. a couple years ago.

Despite the claims, Vance said money did not play a part in his decision.

Vance: “Our sex crimes prosecutors made the determination that this was not going to be a provable case, so the decision was made not to go forward. We really did what I think the law obligates us to do.”

The decision comes after The New York Times published a story detailing numerous accusations of sexual harassment against Weinstein.

The allegations span three decades and include at least eight legal settlements with women, according to the report.

Weinstein is reportedly in Arizona where he's expected to start treatment for sex addiction.