Weinstein Company releases accusers from nondisclosure agreements as it files for bankruptcy

Harvey Weinstein’s former company has announced plans to release any victims of his alleged misconduct from nondisclosure agreements.

The production company has been rocked by a wave of allegations against the Oscar-winning producer over the past six months.

Weinstein, who was fired as his company’s CEO in October, denies all wrong-doing and insists the sexual relations he had were consensual.

"Since October, it has been reported that Harvey Weinstein used non-disclosure agreements as a secret weapon to silence his accusers. Effective immediately, those `agreements' end," the company said in a statement. "No one should be afraid to speak out or coerced to stay quiet."

The move had long been sought by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who filed a lawsuit against the company last month on behalf of its employees.

In a statement, Schneiderman praised the decision as "a watershed moment for efforts to address the corrosive effects of sexual misconduct in the workplace."

Some 80 women, including prominent actresses, have accused Weinstein of misconduct ranging from rape to harassment.

It comes as the Weinstein Company files for bankruptcy, in order to facilitate a buy-out from a private equity firm.

Dallas-based Lantern Capital Partners has agreed to buy the company, subject to approval by the US Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.