D.A. Vance defends not charging Harvey Weinstein in 2015

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - More than a dozen women now publicly claim that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein either sexually harassed or assaulted them. Three allege he raped them.

A representative for Weinstein is denying the allegations. But in response, his movie production company fired Weinstein Sunday.

Actresses Ashley Judd, Angelina Jolie, and Gwyneth Paltrow are among the accusers. In newly released audio from 2015, Weinstein is confronted by a model who said he groped her. The NYPD detectives investigating the model's claims made the recording.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. called the recording "insufficient to prove a crime" under New York law. On Wednesday, he defended his decision not to prosecute the case in 2015.

"Our sex crimes investigators made the determination that this was not going to be a provable case and so the decision was made not to go forward," Vance said.

After the case was dismissed, Weinstein's lawyer made a $10,000 donation to Vance's reelection campaign, according to an International Business Times review of campaign finance documents. Vance said that had no influence on his decision.

"No contribution ever in my seven years as district attorney has ever had any impact on my decision-making in a case," he said.

Weinstein could be facing civil lawsuits, according to Marie Napoli, an attorney who handles workplace sexual harassment cases.

"Sexual harassment is more about power than it is about sex," Napoli said. "Every state has its own, and even city, has its own civil rights laws and its own statute of limitations. So there may be something in one of those mundane little laws, in either the states or cities that still has some of these actions alive. And I would look into that, depending where the plaintiff lives and even where Harvey Weinstein is living right now."

Weinstein's wife of 10 years announced she is leaving him.

"My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions," Georgina Chapman wrote in a statement. "Caring for my young children is my first priority and I ask the media for privacy at this time."