Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, a deposed king already in prison for rape and sexual assault, pleaded “not guilty” Wednesday to a new charge of sexually assaulting a woman in 2006, in a Manhattan court where he is to be retried at a later date.
Mr. Weinstein, 72, who underwent heart surgery last week in New York where he is incarcerated, arrived visibly weakened, unshaven and in a wheelchair to hear the reading of this new indictment for sex crimes.
Decided by a grand jury – citizens who participate in the investigation with prosecutors – this indictment adds to a long list of accusations since 2017 for which he has already been tried and convicted twice, in New York and in Los Angeles.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged him this time with “the sexual assault of a woman in a lower Manhattan hotel on a single occasion between April 29 and May 6, 2006,” according to a statement.
“Thanks to this surviving victim who courageously testified, Harvey Weinstein is now charged with a new alleged violent sexual assault,” the magistrate thundered.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, a lawyer for disgraced producer Arthur Aidala stressed that the sexual assault for which his client is now being prosecuted dates back “nearly two decades and that “currently [il] not in his[vait] no more than that.”
The fall of the former all-powerful producer of American cinema triggered a global shockwave, freed the voices of many victims and brought to light the sexual and sexist violence against women.
The former head of Miramax studios is to be retried in New York after the resounding overturning at the end of April by an appeals court of his 2020 conviction for the rape of an actress, Jessica Mann, and the sexual assault of a production assistant, Mimi Haleyi.
#MeToo Backtracking
This surprise turnaround was seen as an affront and a step backwards for the #MeToo movement.
The date of November 12 was mentioned for a new trial in New York – including the indictment this Wednesday – but the public prosecutor considered Wednesday that it was “not realistic” and the judge set October 2 for the next procedural hearing, according to an AFP journalist present in the courtroom.
More than 80 women have accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment, sexual assault or rape, including actresses Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Judd.
Actress Jessica Mann has already announced that she will testify again against the accused in a new trial.
Until then, Harvey Weinstein remains behind bars as he was also sentenced in 2023 to 16 years in prison in Los Angeles for separate cases of rape and sexual assault.
He appealed and has always maintained that the sexual relations were consensual.