Asia Argento accuser Jimmy Bennett vows to get remainder of payment, donate it to #MeToo

Jimmy Bennett's attorney is striking back following Asia Argento's claim the actor who accuses her of sexual assault is actually guilty of "sexually attacking" her and vows that they will get the money he is owed and give it to the #MeToo movement.

A statement put out earlier this week by Argento's attorney, Mark Jay Heller, also claimed, without providing any proof, that Bennett was "alleged to have been charged in 2014 at the Los Angeles Police Department with 'unlawful sex with a minor,' 'stalking' and 'child pornography' and 'child exploitation.' " However, Greg Risling, a spokesman for the district attorney, told USA TODAY that "our office has no record of him being charged in connection with the referenced 2014 incident."

Bennett's attorney, Gordon K. Sattro, called Argento and Heller's portrayal of the situation "offensive and dismissive" In a statement issued to USA TODAY Friday. He added that the text left him "shocked, appalled, and disgusted by their representations, mischaracterizations, and attacks. If I were to sum up the letter from Asia and her attorney in a single word, it would be 'hypocritical,' with a close second being 'non-sensical.' "  

"We read this statement as a self-serving and slanderous one which is offensive, not only to my client but in all likelihood to victims both silent and outspoken, everywhere," Sattro's statement continued. 

Asia Argento: Could #MeToo be damaged by statutory rape allegation against her?​​​​​​​

More:  #MeToo activist Asia Argento paid her sexual assault accuser $380,000​​​​​​​

Sattro also accused Argento of "victim-shaming" Bennett and said the actress "has yet to realize that successful women can also be among those who prey on the vulnerable. Predators are not limited to a single sex." 

Argento now paints Bennett as the initiator in their 2013 sexual encounter when he was 17 and she was 37. He said they did have sex. Argento denies having sex with Bennett and Heller told USA TODAY leaked texts where she said "I had sex with (Bennett)" were accurate but misconstrued.

Sattro continued to refute Argento's account of the evening expressed in her statement.  

"It should be made clear that Asia’s attacks on my client’s character have no bearing on the events that took place on May 9, 2013, and the statements in her (lawyer's) most recent letter are seemingly crafted with the intent to intimidate, shame, and insult our client back into silence," his statement read. "This is a familiar tactic which has been criticized by the #MeToo movement repeatedly over the past year."

Despite Argento's vow she would not permit further payments to Bennett (a balance of $130,000 of the $380,000 agreement remains according to Argento's attorney) Sattro insists his client will get paid.

"With the above in mind, we have decided that we are going to secure the balance of funds due under the legally enforceable agreement between Jimmy and Asia and we will be cooperating with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department," said the statement. 

While Heller wrote of Bennett's "desperation to seek money" from his client and her late boyfriend Anthony Bourdain, Sattro said Bennett will give the remaining balance away. 

"Upon securing the outstanding funds owed, Jimmy will be donating the entirety of it to the #MeToo movement."

Contributing: Maria Puente

More:Rain Dove, partner of Rose McGowan breaks silence on Asia Argento, leaked text messages

More:Rose McGowan takes Jimmy Bennett's side against #MeToo pal Asia Argento