The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office decided Wednesday to not charge Armie Hammer after years of investigating claims he sexually assaulted a woman in 2017.
“Sexual assault cases are often difficult to prove, which is why we assign our most experienced prosecutors to review them,” a spokesperson for the DA’s Office tells Pvnew.
“In this case, those prosecutors conducted an extremely thorough review, but determined that at this time, there is insufficient evidence to charge Mr. Hammer with a crime.”
The rep adds that their office has an “ethical responsibility” to only charge cases that can be proven “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
“We know that it is hard for women to report sexual assault,” the spokesperson also notes.
“Even when we cannot move forward with a prosecution, our victim service representatives will be available to those who seek our victim support services.”
The rep then concludes, “Due to the complexity of the relationship and inability to prove a non-consensual, forcible sexual encounter we are unable to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.”
In March 2021, a woman who identified herself only by her first name, Effie, came forward to accuse Hammer, 36, of “mentally, emotionally and sexually” abusing her throughout their four-year relationship.
She claimed the “Call Me By Your Name” star became “increasingly more violent” over the span of their romance and, on April 24, 2017, his abuse allegedly escalated to rape.
Effie tells Pvnew in a statement Wednesday that she is “disappointed” with the LA DA’s decision not to prosecute Hammer.
“I felt a duty to speak out and file a report in order to try to hold Armie accountable for all the harm and trauma he has caused me and in order to protect other women from experiencing similar abuse,” she adds, reaffirming her claims.
“It has cost me a great deal to have spoken out and filed a report against Armie’s abuse.”
Effie notes that, since speaking out, she has allegedly received “death threats, rape threats, countless attacks, and atrocious, incessant harassment.”
She concludes in her statement, “I believe that many of Armie’s victims were afraid to come forward. My hope is that one day, rapists won’t get away with it.”
Pvnew has also reached out to Hammer’s attorney for comment but did not immediately hear back in time for publication.
However, the “Social Network” actor took to Instagram to express “a very special thank you to all of the people who have helped me get through this time. onwards and upwards.”
He then added in a post, “I am very grateful to the District Attorney for conducting a thorough investigation and coming to the conclusion that I have stood by this entire time, that no crime was committed. I look forward to beginning what will be a long, difficult process of putting my life back together now that my name is cleared.”
He had previously denied Effie’s allegations and claimed in February that he engaged in “consensual” sexual acts with his former lover.
“She planned all of the details out, all the way down to what Starbucks I would see her at, how I would follow her home, how her front door would be open and unlocked, and I would come in, and we would engage in what is called a ‘consensual non-consent scene,’ CNC,” the actor alleged.
The interview was the first time Hammer had spoken out since sexual misconduct — including cannibalistic fetishism and BDSM fantasies — exploded over the internet.
Hammer’s attorney also previously told Pvnew that his client “maintained that all of his interactions with [Effie] — and every other sexual partner of his for that matter — have been completely consensual, discussed and agreed upon in advance, and mutually participatory.”
The lawyer added, “[Effie’s] attention seeking and ill-advised legal bid will only make it more difficult for real victims of sexual violence to get the justice they deserve.”
Effie shared on her Instagram Stories Wednesday that it is — coincidentally — her birthday and instead of celebrating she has been speaking to law enforcement about the alleged “atrocious harassment” she has received for “weeks.”
She concluded, “What I want most to do: sleep. I just want sleep.”
