Harvey Weinstein Pleads Not Guilty to New Sex-Crime Indictment

ICARO Media Group
Politics
18/09/2024 21h27

Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty to a fresh sex-crime indictment in a Manhattan court on Wednesday. This comes several months after his previous conviction was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals.

The new indictment accuses Weinstein of sexually assaulting a woman in a Manhattan hotel back in 2006. The Manhattan district attorney's office, which is handling the case, is also proceeding with a retrial of the earlier conviction. Weinstein, 72, is already facing imprisonment in California following his conviction there on sex charges.

Weinstein, who underwent emergency heart surgery on September 8, made his appearance in court on Wednesday. He arrived in a wheelchair, wearing dark rimmed glasses and a dark suit. With a bandage on his right hand, he held two books as he sat next to his lawyers during the arraignment. When asked to enter a plea, he replied with a firm "not guilty."

In 2020, Weinstein was found guilty in New York of raping an aspiring actress in a hotel room seven years prior. He was also convicted of assaulting a former television production assistant, who testified that he had forced oral sex on her in his Manhattan apartment in July 2006. However, the conviction was later overturned due to procedural errors.

The New York Court of Appeals ruled that the judge had made a mistake by allowing several accusers to testify, even though they had not filed charges against Weinstein. District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg wasted no time in stating that he would pursue another trial against the disgraced producer.

The new indictment against Weinstein had remained sealed until he was deemed fit to appear in court. Wednesday marked the day when he was considered well enough to face the upcoming legal proceedings.

As the process unfolds, the public awaits the outcome of this retrial, which will once again examine the allegations of sexual misconduct surrounding Weinstein. The case is a significant event in the #MeToo movement, shining a spotlight on the abuse of power in the entertainment industry and the struggles faced by survivors of such crimes.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

Related