Featured Image Credit: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images
Topics: Robert De Niro, Celebrity, News, US News, Crime
Callum Jones
Topics: Robert De Niro, Celebrity, News, US News, Crime
Robert De Niro has claimed his former assistant stole five million airline miles which he wanted 'for my kids'.
The actor is currently facing off with his former assistant Graham Chase Robinson in an explosive court battle.
Robinson worked for De Niro for 11 years, and quit her job in 2019.
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The 41-year-old started off as the actor's assistant and was eventually promoted to the role of vice-president of Canal Productions.
According to reports, she was paid $300,000 a year while in the position.
Robinson is suing De Niro for a staggering $12 million in damages for 'severe emotional distress and repetitional harm'.
Her lawsuit came after the actor filed one against her for alleged theft.
De Niro took to the stand on Monday (30 October) and Tuesday (31 October), where he was questioned by Robinson’s legal team with the topic of SkyMiles coming into the conversation.
As per the ongoing lawsuit, De Niro claimed Robinson stole five million Delta SkyMiles - reportedly worth around $60,000 - and is yet to return them to this day.
In court, De Niro was questioned about how he had approved Robinson’s access to transfer miles.
After an email proving this was shown in the courtroom, De Niro admitted: "Maybe that was my mistake. I trusted her. But she took 5 million miles. That I didn’t authorize."
De Niro understood that Robinson would take '1, maybe 2 million', adding: "I wanted those SkyMiles to be able to be used by my kids. For obvious reasons, [the kids] were my priority."
De Niro was then questioned further about the miles, with him claiming Robinson made no attempt to give the miles back she had taken.
"She didn’t give them back when she was asked to," he said in court. "Not even negotiate, like, ‘Let me give some of it back.’ Nothing."
He concluded: "That’s all I’m asking … return my things, return my air miles."
As for Robinson, she had made several allegations about her former employer, including that he called her abusive names and got her to decorate his Christmas tree.
In a profanity-filled voicemail played in court, De Niro could be heard saying: "You f**king don’t answer my calls. How dare you? You’re about to be fired. You’re f**king history.
"This is bulls**t. How dare you f**king disrespect me? You gotta be f**king kidding me, you spoiled brat! F**k you!"
The ongoing trial is expected to last for two weeks.