In response to a further accusation of s*x crimes in New York, disgraced American film producer; Harvey Weinstein entered a not-guilty plea on Wednesday.
Arriving in a wheelchair in a Manhattan courtroom, Weinstein, 72, entered his plea to one count of engaging in a criminal s*xual act.
Weinstein had emergency heart surgery just over a week ago. The formerly influential film magnate made a fleeting court appearance, unshaven, pallid, and fragile.
“Thanks to this survivor who bravely came forward, Harvey Weinstein now stands indicted for an additional alleged violent s*xual assault,” Bragg stated in his statement.
Weinstein was found guilty of rape in California and is currently serving a 16-year prison term. In 2020, he was also found guilty in New York of forcing a production assistant to have oral sx with him and of raping and sxually abusing an actress. In that instance, he received a 23-year prison sentence. But in April, a New York appeals court reversed that decision, and Weinstein is currently awaiting a new trial on those accusations. The next court date for Weinstein was set by Judge Curtis Farber on October 2. The former A-list actor has experienced several health problems while incarcerated and has been in a secure medical unit.
On September 9, Weinstein was taken from New York’s Rikers Island prison to Bellevue Hospital in urgent need of heart surgery. The #MeToo movement was sparked by allegations against Weinstein in 2017, marking a turning point for women speaking out against s*xual misconduct. More than 80 women, including well-known stars Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ashley Judd, accused him of rape, harassment, or s*xual assault.
Weinstein asserted that all alleged s*xual interactions were voluntary. Weinstein co-founded Miramax Films with his brother Bob. Among their hits was “Shakespeare in Love,” which won a best picture Oscar in 1998 and was shared by Weinstein.
