Drug case an attempt to silence me: McGowan

Rose McGowan says a warrant for her arrest on drug possession charges is an attempt to silence her.

In this Oct. 27, 2017, file photo, actress Rose McGowan speaks at the inaugural Women's Convention in Detroit. An arrest warrant has been obtained for McGowan. Source: AAP

Actress Rose McGowan, who has emerged as a prominent voice speaking out against sexual assault in Hollywood, says a months-old warrant for her arrest on drug possession charges is an attempt to silence her.

McGowan is one of more than a dozen women who have accused movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault or sexual harassment.

The felony drug charge stems from an investigation of personal belongings that tested positive for narcotics after being left behind on a United flight arriving at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia on January 20, according to police.

"Are they trying to silence me?" McGowan said on Twitter on Monday. "There is a warrant out for my arrest in Virginia. What a load of horses**t."

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department said in a statement on Monday that on February 1 it had issued the warrant for possession of a controlled substance.

"The Airports Authority police have attempted to contact Ms. McGowan so she can appear in a Loudon County, Virginia, court to respond to the charge," the statement said.

McGowan was the keynote speaker Friday at a women's conference in Detroit, where she urged attendees to speak out on sex assault.