Spacey faces court over ‘sexual assault on teenager at party’

KEVIN SPACEY was set to appear in a New York court today in a civil case over an allegation that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy.

The House of Cards star is being sued by Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp, who claims Spacey touched him inappropriately at a party in 1986 when he was a teenager. The legal action was filed in September 2020 and accuses Spacey of battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Rapp claims he was the victim of an “unwanted sexual advance” at the party in Manhattan when Spacey was 26 or 27. He is reportedly seeking $40 million in damages.

Both Rapp, now 51, and Spacey were expected to be at the Manhattan federal court when the trial opens with jury selection today. Spacey, 63, has “categorically denied” the accusations and says he “did not harbour any sexual interest or desire in Rapp at the time or since” the incident. The trial comes less than three months after Spacey appeared in a London court to “strenuously” deny sexual assault charges dating back 17 years. He denied five allegations relating to three men, who are now in their thirties and forties, at the Old Bailey on July 14. The alleged offences were said to have taken place in London and Gloucestershire between 2005 and 2013, during which time Spacey was artistic director of The Old Vic theatre.

Mr Justice Wall set a trial date from June 6 next year.