Philadelphia DA to prosecute Walter Weeks for DNC sexual assault

The Doubletree Hotel Philadelphia, where Walter Weeks allegedly sexually assaulted Gwen Snyder

The Doubletree Hotel Philadelphia, where Walter Weeks allegedly sexually assaulted Gwen Snyder

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams announced that he would, in fact, seek criminal charges against Walter Weeks, a member of Pennsylvania's Democratic National Convention delegation who allegedly assaulted fellow delegate Gwen Snyder during the Democratic National Convention in July.

Williams had previously declined to charge Weeks with indecent assault for allegedly licking Snyder’s breast during a drunken altercation at the Doubletree Philadelphia, the delegation’s Center City hotel. 

In a press release yesterday, the DA’s Office blamed an “incomplete investigation” for the delayed charges. Before crediting video footage obtained from the Doubletree and “eyewitness testimony” with the reversal of course. 

Weeks, a Delaware County resident, turned himself in on Tuesday.

Snyder had previously excoriated the lackadaisical response to the incident from the DA’s office, hotel staff and DNC organizers. Snyder said she would not be wholly satisfied until DNC organizers enacted a comprehensive sexual assault policy.

In an Inquirer report, Weeks’ attorney promised to contest the charges, which he said had been trumped up due to media attention.