The New York Police Department has closed three sexual assault investigations involving chefMario Batali, according to theNew York Times.
A NYPD official told theNYT, “the charges in two of the case were beyond the New York State statute of limitations, which was lifted in 2006, but not made retroactive,” while the third allegation was dropped due to lack of criminal evidence.
The NYPD declined to comment to PEOPLE on the specifics of any particular investigation.
The chef has admitted acting inappropriately but has denied ever sexually assaulted anyone.
One of the womenaccused Batali of drugging and sexually assaulting herwhile she was unconscious in 2005.
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The police official tells theNYT: “She couldn’t put the pieces together. Something happened to that victim in that room, but we don’t know if it’s criminal or not.”
When the60 Minutesallegationsurfaced, Batali responded: “I vehemently deny the allegation that I sexually assaulted this woman. My past behavior has been deeply inappropriate and I am sincerely remorseful for my actions.”
In a statement toEaterabout the original accusations,Batali said, “I apologize to the people I have mistreated and hurt. Although the identities of most of the individuals mentioned in these stories have not been revealed to me, much of the behavior described does, in fact, match up with ways I have acted. That behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility and am deeply sorry for any pain, humiliation or discomfort I have caused to my peers, employees, customers, friends and family.”
In an interview withNew York Magazinein December, Batali, who iscurrently living in northern Michigan, said he is a “lucky man.”
“Well, it’s been a bad year,” he said, “a bad year.”
source: people.com
