The former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak has claimed that he introduced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein to Israeli spies, who were allegedly hired by the disgraced producer to hide a series of sexual abuse allegations against him.

A report by the New Yorker has claimed that Weinstein hired an “army of spies” in an attempt to stop accusers from going public with sexual misconduct claims against him,including Black Cube, an agency run by former officers of Israeli intelligence agencies, including Mossad.

Black Cube, which has branches in Tel Aviv, London, and Paris, offers provides skilled operatives with “highly experienced and trained in Israel’s elite military and governmental intelligence units,” according to its literature.

“Over a year ago, Barak was asked by Harvey Weinstein if he knew an Israeli company he had heard of, that was capable of helping him with business issues he had. Barak confirmed to [Weinstein] the company he heard of was likely Black Cube,” a spokesperson for Barak said in a statement.

“Barak is not personally familiar with the firm or its executives but gave Weinstein its contact information. Barak was not aware until this morning of the fact the company was hired by Weinstein, or for what purposes or operations,” the statement added.

In the year that Black Cube reportedly worked for Weinstein, agents allegedly collected information on the women and journalists trying to expose him, compiling psychological profiles with their personal or sexual histories in an attempt to contradict, discredit or intimidate his accusers.

In a statement, Weinstein’s spokesperson, Sallie Hofmeister, said, “It is a fiction to suggest that any individuals were targeted or suppressed at any time.”