Paul Haggis has been accused of sexual misconduct by four women, including two allegations of rape.

The Oscar-winning screenwriter and director was originally the subject of a lawsuit in December from a publicist who claimed he raped her. Now, three other women have come forward with accusations, according to the Associated Press.

Haggis’s lawyer has denied any accusations, saying: “He didn’t rape anybody.” In a later statement, the following has also been added: “In a society where one of a person’s fundamental rights is the ability to confront an accuser, that right has now been eviscerated when it comes to anyone being charged in the press with any sort of sexual misconduct.”

Publicist Haleigh Breest originally accused Haggis last month of “a shocking and egregious case of rape and sexual assault” that occurred in 2013. “The emotional and psychological damage to Ms Breest from the attack cannot be overstated: it has been profound and lasting,” the complaint read. In response, Haggis filed a countersuit claiming that the lawsuit was “extortion”, a $9m attempt to get money from him.

The three new accusers have refused to be identified for fear of retribution.

One was a 28-year-old publicist working on a television show with Haggis in 1996. She claims he forced her to perform oral sex on him before raping her. She didn’t come forward because she worried that no one would believe her and that Haggis would end her career. “The power, the anger, the financial resources, you feel like you are not really a match for that,” she said.

Haggis with Charlize Theron at the Venice film festival in 2007. Photograph: MJ Kim/Getty Images

A third accuser claimed to have met Haggis while pitching him a TV show idea in his office. She states that Haggis told her he had an arrangement in his marriage that allowed him to sleep with other women before trying to kiss her. “I felt like my life could have been over,” she said, before she managed to escape, followed by him outside.

The final accuser claims that in 2015, Haggis forcibly kissed her before following her into a taxi.

After many women came forward against Harvey Weinstein, Haggis was interviewed by the Guardian about sexual harassment in Hollywood, a place he referred to as a “fairly sexist” town.

“A lot of people are compromised by Harvey’s alleged actions,” he said. “Although everyone thinks it is vile behavior, you have got to focus on those who may have colluded and protected him. For me, they are as guilty as he is and in some cases more so, if I can say that. I mean, he was a predator and a predator is a predator. But what about those who would rather look the other way?”

Haggis rose to fame with race drama Crash and won two Oscars for the film. He has since written screenplays for Million Dollar Baby, Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale as well as directing In the Valley of Elah and The Next Three Days. He was previously a prominent Scientologist and has written about his process of escaping the organization.

His lawyer’s statement has also suggested that Haggis “questions” whether or not the group has played a role in the accusations.