The former film mogul was indicted in New York City hours after his lawyers said he wouldn’t testify before a grand jury
The former film mogul Harvey Weinstein has been indicted on rape and criminal sex act charges in New York City.
Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr announced the indictment Wednesday and said it brings Weinstein “another step closer to accountability”.
The move furthers the first criminal case to arise from a slate of sexual misconduct allegations against him. It came came hours after Weinstein’s lawyers said he’d decided not to testify before the grand jury.
Weinstein’s lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said he would “vigorously defend” against the indictment and ask a court to dismiss it. He called the allegations “unsupported” and reiterated that Weinstein strongly denies them.
What is Harvey Weinstein charged with – and what happens next? Read more
In a statement, Vance said: “A grand jury has voted to indict Harvey Weinstein on charges of rape in the first and third degrees, and criminal sexual act in the first degree.
“This indictment brings the defendant another step closer to accountability for the crimes of violence with which he is now charged. Our office will try this case not in the press, but in the courtroom where it belongs. The defendant’s recent assault on the integrity of the survivors and the legal process is predictable. We are confident that when the jury hears the evidence, it will reject these attacks out of hand.
“I thank the heroic survivors for their strength throughout this process. I also thank Commissioner James O’Neill and members of the New York City police department for their dedication to this case. This investigation remains active and ongoing.”
Earlier, a statement issued through a spokesman on Wednesday said Weinstein’s lawyers decided there was not enough time to prepare him to testify. They say he learned the specific charges and the accusers’ identities only after turning himself in last Friday, with a deadline set for Wednesday afternoon to testify or not. They say his request for more time was denied.
Prosecutors declined to comment.
Weinstein faces rape and criminal sex act charges involving two women in New York. Dozens more women have accused him of sexual misconduct ranging from harassment to assault in various locales.
Play Video 0:35 Harvey Weinstein in handcuffs outside New York police station – video
The 66-year-old former producer has consistently denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex.
Harvey Weinstein: the remarkable downfall of Hollywood's biggest mogul Read more
Weinstein’s principal lawyer, Ben Brafman, held a closed door meeting with others in the judge’s chambers on Tuesday, during which he argued that bad publicity around his client would affect a potential jury. He later maligned one of the alleged victims in the case, saying she had had a romantic relationship with Weinstein before and after allegedly committing sexual misconduct.
Weinstein has been mainly out of the public eye, attending sex addiction rehab in Arizona, since his public downfall last October in the wake of women going public to accuse him of years of abuse of power, sexual harassment and criminal behavior ranging from rape to groping.
He turned himself in last Friday in lower Manhattan and was arrested and taken in handcuffs from the police station to court. He is also being investigated by police in California and the UK.
(CNN) A New York City grand jury on Wednesday indicted movie producer Harvey Weinstein on charges of rape in the first and third degrees and first-degree criminal sexual act, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office said.
Weinstein, 66, was arraigned last week on the same charges, seven months after women began to come forward with stories alleging sexual misconduct by the famous Hollywood producer.
Weinstein, who intends to plead not guilty, remains free after posting a $1 million cash bail, according to his attorney.
The charges stemmed from incidents with two women in 2013 and 2004 and were the result of a joint investigation between police and prosecutors, according to the Manhattan district attorney.
Weinstein is accused of forcing one woman to perform oral sex on him on one occasion between June and September 2004, the criminal complaint said. The alleged rape took place on March 18, 2013, the complaint said.
Read More
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption More than 70 women have accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct
A grand jury in New York has indicted disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein on charges of rape and a criminal sexual act.
The offences relate to an alleged attack on a woman in 2013 and another woman in 2004. Neither woman has been named.
He was initially charged by prosecutors last week. This latest step moves the case towards a trial.
Mr Weinstein's lawyer has said he will deny all the charges against him.
He could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of either offence.
New York district attorney Cyrus Vance said Mr Weinstein was now one step closer to accountability, adding that his office would try the case not in the press but in the courtroom.
Mr Weinstein did not testify before the grand jury, whose decision to indict him is a reflection of their view that enough evidence exists to pursue a prosecution.
The former film producer has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 70 women.
He faces additional investigations in Los Angeles, London, and by the US federal government.
His lawyer Benjamin Brafman said the indictment did not come as a surprise. He argues that unfair political pressure was placed on prosecutors to secure a conviction because of the high-profile nature of the case and the rise of the #MeToo movement highlighting sexual harassment.
Mr Weinstein is currently free on $1m (£751,000) bail, and has agreed to wear a GPS tracker and to surrender his passport.
“I said, over and over, ‘I don’t want to do this, stop, don’t,’ ” Evans told the New Yorker. “I tried to get away, but maybe I didn’t try hard enough. I didn’t want to kick him or fight him.” In the end, she said, “he’s a big guy. He overpowered me.” She added: “I just sort of gave up. That’s the most horrible part of it, and that’s why he’s been able to do this for so long to so many women: People give up, and then they feel like it’s their fault.”
