Harvey Weinstein Pleads Not Guilty to New Sexual Assault Charge, Reports Reuters

By Jack Queen

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Harvey Weinstein entered a plea of not guilty to a new sexual assault charge on Wednesday, nearly five months after his previous conviction for sex crimes in New York was overturned.

The 72-year-old Weinstein, who is recovering from emergency heart surgery, appeared in a New York state court in Manhattan where he faced Justice Curtis Farber. When asked for his plea regarding the felony charge of committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree, Weinstein replied, "Not guilty," with conviction.

In addition to the new charge, Weinstein still faces two other criminal counts from a prior indictment, in which he also pleaded not guilty. These include another charge of first-degree criminal sexual act and a third-degree rape charge.

Weinstein was present in court in a wheelchair, dressed in a dark suit and blue tie, with a large bandage on his right hand.

The new charge, announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, accuses him of sexually assaulting a woman at a downtown Manhattan hotel between April 29 and May 6, 2006. Bragg stated, “Thanks to this survivor who bravely came forward, Harvey Weinstein now stands indicted for an additional alleged violent sexual assault.” The identity of Weinstein’s latest accuser has not yet been disclosed.

Her attorney, Lindsay Goldbrum, mentioned in a statement that the survivor would be adequately prepared to present her case at trial to ensure Weinstein is held accountable before a jury.

It remains uncertain whether the retrial of Weinstein will encompass the three charges he currently faces. In February 2020, a jury found him guilty of rape and sexual assault, which took place less than 2.5 years after allegations of sexual misconduct helped ignite the #MeToo movement.

However, in April, the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, annulled Weinstein’s conviction and 23-year sentence, citing that he did not receive a fair trial due to the judge’s allowance of testimony from women with whom he had not been charged with assaulting.

Weinstein has denied any nonconsensual sexual encounters. His original trial judge, James Burke, was not reappointed after his term concluded at the end of 2022.

NEW CHARGE MAY DELAY RETRIAL

The recent charge emerged two months after prosecutors announced they were probing additional alleged violent sexual assaults by Weinstein, following new accusations.

Farber had initially set a tentative retrial date for November 12. However, on Wednesday, prosecutors indicated they would likely need until January to prepare. Weinstein’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, expressed that his client desires a trial to commence "as soon as humanly possible." He later informed reporters that Weinstein was "vehemently opposed" to the inclusion of the new charge in the original case and sought a retrial on the initial charges at the earliest opportunity.

While Farber did not establish a new trial date, he mentioned that proceedings would continue when both parties are ready.

Weinstein remains in custody due to a separate conviction last year in California, where he was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the rape of an actress in Los Angeles in 2013. His legal team has reported that he is facing various health challenges, having been rushed to the hospital from Rikers Island jail on September 8 for heart surgery.

Once a powerful figure in Hollywood, Weinstein co-founded Miramax, which produced acclaimed films like "Shakespeare in Love" and "Pulp Fiction." Following the initial allegations of sexual misconduct, his film studio declared bankruptcy in March 2018.

During the New York trial, prosecutors characterized Weinstein as a serial predator who exploited women by promising them career opportunities in Hollywood, luring them into hotel rooms or private locations, and subsequently overpowering them.