Harvey Weinstein Pleads Not Guilty to New Sex Crime Charge in New York
Harvey Weinstein, the former movie mogul currently serving jail time, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a new sex crime charge in New York. The latest indictment accuses him of committing a criminal sex act by forcing oral sex on a woman between April 29 and May 6, 2006. Weinstein has consistently denied engaging in any non-consensual sexual activity.
No information about the new accuser has been released. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg commended the survivor for coming forward and stated that Weinstein now faces an additional alleged violent sexual assault charge. He added that the investigation is ongoing.
Weinstein’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, expressed his lack of knowledge regarding the accuser’s identity or the specifics of the allegation. Aidala emphasized that there is much work to be done and an investigation needs to take place before any conclusions can be drawn.
According to Aidala, Weinstein has never forced himself on anyone. The 72-year-old appeared in court in a wheelchair due to his recovery from emergency surgery and seemed attentive during the proceedings.
Last week, prosecutors revealed that Weinstein had been indicted on additional sex crime charges unrelated to his overturned conviction in 2020. However, this new indictment remained sealed until his arraignment.
Prosecutors have disclosed that evidence was presented regarding up to three alleged assaults—two occurring at hotels in Tribeca and one at a residential building in lower Manhattan—between the mid-2000s and 2016.
It remains unclear whether these incidents include those described in the newly revealed indictment or what conclusions were reached by the grand jury concerning claims beyond those mentioned specifically.
Aidala mentioned that Weinstein felt somewhat relieved upon discovering only one charge listed on this new indictment. While preparing for these fresh charges, he also awaits retrial after his previous conviction was overturned earlier this year by New York state’s highest court due to unfair testimony inclusion unrelated to his case.
The retrial is tentatively scheduled for November 12 but may face delays as Judge Curtis Farber plans an October 2 hearing regarding scheduling matters.
Weinstein desires a prompt trial; however, his defense team wants sufficient time to address this new charge thoroughly before proceeding further.
Prosecutors aim to incorporate these new charges into the retrial; nevertheless, Weinstein’s lawyers argue it should be treated as a separate case. Judge Farber will make a ruling on this issue come October 2nd.
Currently incarcerated while awaiting retrial for rape charges from Los Angeles as well as facing legal proceedings in New York City, Harvey Weinstein remains at Bellevue Hospital following emergency surgery earlier this month related to fluid buildup around his heart and lungs.
