CHICAGO (AP) — An attorney for an Illinois man accused of sex trafficking is citing the #MeToo movement in her request to delay his trial.
The Chicago Tribune reports Benjamin Biancofiori of Naperville is accused of using death threats, vicious beatings and other abuse to force women into sexual servitude. His trial is scheduled to begin Monday.
But in a seven-page motion to the U.S. attorney’s office, Biancofiori’s attorney, Andrea Gambino, seeks to draw a connection between her client’s case and allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein and other male celebrities like Kevin Spacey.
Gambino states in the motion that she needs more time to create a questionnaire that would identify potential jurors who have participated in the #MeToo movement or may be prejudiced by “their own individual experiences with male sexual misconduct.”
The U.S. attorney’s office hasn’t responded to the request.
