Seven years after allegations of sexual assault and harassment against Harvey Weinstein ignited the #MeToo movement, the former movie mogul is facing a new sex crime charge. This time, the accusation comes from a woman who has never publicly shared her story. While awaiting retrial on other sex charges in a landmark #MeToo case, Weinstein pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to the new charge, which alleges he forced oral sex on a woman in a Manhattan hotel in the spring of 2006.
Prosecutors have not released any details about the woman, and Weinstein’s lawyer claims he has no knowledge of her identity. However, an attorney representing the woman confirmed that she has never spoken out publicly before. “She will be fully prepared to speak her truth at trial to hold Mr. Weinstein accountable before a jury of his peers,” stated Lindsay Goldbrum, the woman’s attorney. Goldbrum also mentioned that her client wishes to remain anonymous for now, and the law firm declined to provide further details about the woman or the accusation.
The indictment and other court documents indicate that the alleged assault, specifically labeled as a “criminal sex act,” occurred at a lower Manhattan hotel between April 29th and May 6th, 2006. Weinstein has consistently maintained that any sexual activity he engaged in was consensual. His defense attorney, Arthur Aidala, reiterated this stance on Wednesday, stating that his client “never forced himself on anyone.” Aidala also confessed to being completely unaware of the accuser’s identity or the specifics of the allegation. “We have a lot of work to do. We have to find out who that person is. We have to do an investigation,” he said outside the courtroom.
The 72-year-old Weinstein, recovering from emergency surgery, appeared in court in a wheelchair, carrying two novels. He seemed to follow the proceedings intently. Once a powerful studio boss, Weinstein became a symbol of the #MeToo movement in 2017 when reports from The New York Times and The New Yorker revealed numerous allegations of misconduct against him that had long been whispered about in Hollywood. The ensuing public outcry sparked a wider reckoning with sexual misconduct, leading to Weinstein’s downfall, numerous lawsuits, and criminal charges on both coasts of the United States.
Weinstein’s 2020 rape and sexual assault conviction marked a watershed moment for the #MeToo movement, followed by another rape conviction in Los Angeles in 2022. He was sentenced to decades in prison. However, New York state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, overturned his 2020 conviction this spring. The court reasoned that the trial judge had improperly allowed testimony based on allegations not directly related to the case. The judge responsible for the initial trial is no longer on the bench, as his term expired in 2022.
In light of the overturned conviction, the Court of Appeals ordered a new trial, originally scheduled for November but now likely to be delayed. Judge Curtis Farber, who is presiding over the new trial, has set an October 2nd hearing to address scheduling and determine whether the new charge will be included in the retrial. Prosecutors favor combining the charges, while Weinstein’s legal team opposes it.
Aidala stated that Weinstein wishes to proceed to trial as soon as possible, but his defense team wants to thoroughly investigate the new charge before moving forward. Last week, prosecutors revealed that Weinstein had been indicted on at least one additional sex crime charge not included in the initial case, but the indictment remained sealed until Wednesday’s arraignment. Prosecutors mentioned that the grand jury had reviewed evidence related to up to three alleged assaults, occurring in hotels and a residential building, between the mid-2000s and 2016. Aidala expressed some relief that only one charge was included in the new indictment.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated that the investigation is ongoing. “Thanks to this survivor who bravely came forward, Harvey Weinstein now stands indicted for an additional alleged violent sexual assault,” Bragg said in a statement. Weinstein remains in custody while awaiting his New York retrial. Following emergency surgery on September 9th to drain fluid around his heart and lungs, the 72-year-old has been hospitalized in Manhattan. Aidala mentioned that Weinstein takes as many as 19 different medications for his various health ailments.
Once a highly influential figure in the movie industry, Weinstein co-founded the film and television production companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company, producing acclaimed films like “Shakespeare in Love” and “The Crying Game.” This new charge adds another chapter to the complex and ongoing story of Harvey Weinstein, one that continues to captivate the public and highlight the fight against sexual misconduct.
