Why Was Ben Affleck On Harvey Weinstein's 'Red Flag List'?

Gettyimages | Paras Griffin

Unsealed court documents have revealed that actor Ben Affleck's name was on ex-producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein's "red flag list."

The "red flag list" was referred to in an email with an attachment Weinstein sent to a private investigator. The list included people who Weinstein thought were talking to journalists about his alleged sexual conduct.

Affleck's name appeared on the list, which Weinstein kept in 2017.

Variety writes that the list was among about a thousand pages of documents that were recently unsealed in court ahead of Weinstein's sentencing.

Weinstein, whose trial ended on Jan. 24, was found guilty of two charges of a criminal sex act and rape in the third degree.

Weinstein, who says he was a victim of the MeToo movement, was sentenced today to 23 years in prison in his rape trial and is likely returning to Rikers Island to begin serving out his term.

Gettyimages | JOHANNES EISELE

Variety said there were about 70 names on the list, including Affleck and accusers Annabella Sciorra, Rose McGowan, Zelda Perkins, Lysette Anthony and Rowena Chiu. Others on the list were Irwin Reiter, a Weinstein Company exec; Weinstein’s former assistant and “Russian Doll” creator Leslye Headland; and producers Megan Ellison, Donna Gigliotti, Jason Blum and Jennifer Todd.

There was also a disparaging email about actress Jennifer Aniston, along with calls for help from executives and billionaires like Michael Bloomberg and Jeff Bezos.

Annabella Sciorra, whose name was on that list, has testified that Weinstein made his way into her apartment about 25 years ago and raped her.

"I felt overpowered because he was very big," she told jurors.

Gettyimages | Eduardo Munoz Alvarez

Variety in January detailed a call Anson received from Weinstein several years ago:

"Questioned by Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi, the investigator said he received a call directly from Weinstein a few years ago and during that 20-minute call, Weinstein sounded “agitated,” 'stressed' and 'not happy.' "

After the call Anson testified he spoke with one of Weinstein's attorneys and also got an email saying what Weinstein wanted him to do regarding who he thought was talking with journalists and who were "discuss(ing) his sexual conduct in a negative way."

Variety reported in January that Sam Anson, an investigator for Guidepost Solutions, had testified in court about the red flag list.

Anson said the email contained a message from Weinstein that said, “The red flags are the first to call.”

Anson says he didn't conduct the investigation, but was unsure about who did.