Disgraced Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein pleaded not responsible on Wednesday to a brand new intercourse crime cost in New York.
Weinstein, 72, who had emergency coronary heart surgical procedure simply over every week in the past, appeared in a Manhattan courtroom in a wheelchair to enter his plea to a single depend of committing a prison sexual act.
The once-powerful film mogul was unshaven and appeared pale and visibly frail throughout his transient court docket look earlier than Decide Curtis Farber. He was sporting a darkish swimsuit, a white shirt and a blue tie.
Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg stated the brand new indictment of Weinstein is for the alleged sexual assault of a lady in a decrease Manhattan lodge someday between April 29, 2006 and Might 6, 2006.
“Due to this survivor who bravely got here ahead, Harvey Weinstein now stands indicted for a further alleged violent sexual assault,” Bragg stated in a press release.
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“This investigation is ongoing,” he added.
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Chatting with reporters after the arraignment, Arthur Aidala, Weinstein’s lawyer, stated the alleged sexual assault behind the brand new cost was “nearly 20 years in the past” and “at this second I don’t know rather more than that.”
Weinstein is serving a 16-year jail sentence after being convicted on rape prices in California.
He was additionally convicted in New York in 2020 of the rape and sexual assault of an actress and of forcibly performing oral intercourse on a manufacturing assistant.
He was sentenced to 23 years in jail in that case.
The New York Court docket of Appeals, nonetheless, overturned that conviction in April and Weinstein is awaiting a retrial on these prices.
The brand new trial was scheduled to start on November 12 however prosecutors stated Wednesday the date appears “unrealistic.”
Farber scheduled a subsequent court docket listening to for Weinstein for October 2.
The one-time Hollywood heavyweight has suffered from a raft of well being points whereas in jail and has hung out in a safe hospital unit.
Weinstein was rushed to Bellevue Hospital final week from New York’s Rikers Island jail for emergency coronary heart surgical procedure.
Allegations in opposition to Weinstein helped launch the #MeToo motion in 2017, a watershed second for girls preventing sexual misconduct.
Greater than 80 ladies accused him of harassment, sexual assault or rape, together with outstanding actors Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Judd.
Weinstein claimed any sexual relations in query had been consensual.
Weinstein and his brother Bob co-founded Miramax Movies.
Their hits included 1994’s “Pulp Fiction” and 1998’s “Shakespeare in Love,” for which Weinstein shared a finest image Oscar.