More than 80 women have accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment, assault or rape.
New York:
Disgraced Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a new sex crime charge in New York.
Weinstein, 72, who underwent emergency heart surgery just over a week ago, appeared in a wheelchair in a Manhattan courtroom to plead to a charge of committing a criminal sexual act.
The once-powerful movie mogul was unshaven, pale and visibly frail during his brief appearance before Judge Curtis Farber. He wore a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie.
According to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the new charge against Weinstein centers on the alleged sexual assault of a woman at a Lower Manhattan hotel sometime between April 29 and May 6, 2006.
“Thanks to this survivor courageously coming forward, Harvey Weinstein is now facing charges for yet another alleged violent sexual assault,” Bragg said in a statement.
“This investigation is still ongoing,” he added.
Arthur Aidala, Weinstein's attorney, spoke to reporters after the subpoena, saying that the alleged sexual assault at the heart of the new complaint occurred “almost 20 years ago” and that “I don't know much more than that at this point.”
Weinstein is serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted of rape in California.
In 2020, he was also convicted in New York of raping and sexually assaulting an actress and of forcing oral sex on a production assistant.
He was sentenced to 23 years in prison in that case.
However, the New York Court of Appeals overturned that conviction in April, and Weinstein now awaits a new trial on the charges.
The new trial was scheduled to begin on November 12, but prosecutors say that date seems “unrealistic.”
Farber scheduled Weinstein's next court hearing for October 2.
The former Hollywood star struggled with a series of health problems while in prison and spent time in a secure hospital unit.
Weinstein was rushed from New York's Rikers Island jail to Bellevue Hospital last week for emergency heart surgery.
Allegations against Weinstein led to the launch of the #MeToo movement in 2017, a watershed moment for women speaking out against sexual misconduct.
More than 80 women have accused him of harassment, assault and rape, including well-known actors Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Judd.
Weinstein claimed that all sexual relations in question were consensual.
Weinstein and his brother Bob founded Miramax Films.
Their hits included 1994's “Pulp Fiction” and 1998's “Shakespeare in Love,” for which Weinstein shared an Oscar for Best Picture.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Our staff and is published via a syndicated feed.)
