Harvey Weinstein Pleads Not Guilty

In October 2017, reports were released by The New York Times and The New Yorker of Harvey Weinstein raping, sexually assaulting and abusing over eighty women in the film industry over thirty years, including the likes of Angelina Jolie. As women stepped forward with accusations, Weinstein was dismissed and his career as a film producer ruined, despite denying ‘any non-consensual sex’. On 25 May 2018, Weinstein was arrested and charged with rape and other offenses, before being released on bail of $1 million.

Since then, the scandal has catalyzed a series of similar allegations against powerful men in this industry and others around the world, leading to many of them being removed from high positions, and women’s stories and experiences being shared and listened to, especially with the rise of social media and influence of #MeToo. Following all of this, on Monday (August 26), Weinstein was accused of two additional charges of predatory sexual assault and has pled not guilty.

The hearing and revised charges were a means of enabling Annabella Sciorra, an actress known for her role in The Sopranos, to give evidence as she accused Weinstein of raping her in 1993. However, unfortunately, prosecutors are unable to charge him with rape for this allegation because, due to state law, the date of the alleged rape is too old. This evidence can, however, be used to prove his pattern of assaulting other women over the years, all of which he has denied.
The charges that he faced on Monday comprised of one victim claiming Weinstein raped her in 2013, and another claiming that he forcibly performed a sex act in 2006.

Weinstein’s lawyers have been given more time to prepare for the trial, hence it has been delayed until January. When asked if Weinstein was ready for the trial by the judge, he laughed and responded with ‘not really’. This supposedly inappropriate attitude also included taking out his mobile phone, which the judge publicly berated him for.
Weinstein’s lawyers have said they would like this new evidence and the latest revised charges to be dismissed, and describing the case as ‘weak’. They have also asked for the trial to be moved away from the intense environment and media scrutiny in New York.

In the previous indictment, Weinstein pleaded not guilty to five criminal charges, including two counts of rape, one count of criminal sexual act, and two counts of predatory sexual assault. If convicted, he could face a life sentence.

Image source: cnn.com 

Next up, Bill Cosby Convicted Of Sexual Assault: What Does It Mean For The Victims?