Harvey Weinstein Pleads Not Guilty to New Charges in New York Courtroom
Harvey Weinstein has entered a plea of not guilty to one count of a criminal sex act in the first degree following his indictment by a grand jury earlier this month.
During a court appearance on Wednesday, Weinstein, 72, was present in a wheelchair and dressed in a suit. He had been medically cleared to attend the hearing after undergoing an emergency procedure related to his heart and lungs in recent weeks.
The indictment was unsealed after its announcement during a court hearing last Thursday. At that time, the indictment had remained sealed as Weinstein was unable to attend due to health issues.
Prosecutors indicated that the alleged incident occurred in 2006 but did not release specific details about the case.
The attorney representing the woman whose testimony led to the new indictment stated she intends to testify at trial. “Ms. Doe has not shared this story publicly before, nor does she want to be identified at this time. She will be fully prepared to speak her truth at trial to hold Mr. Weinstein accountable before a jury of his peers,” said Lindsay M. Goldbrum, the attorney for Jane Doe.
Prosecutors began presenting evidence to the grand jury in August to build their case.
Weinstein was previously convicted in 2020 of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape and subsequently sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, in April, the New York Court of Appeals overturned his conviction, citing violations of his constitutional rights during the initial trial.
A retrial regarding the 2020 charges is tentatively scheduled to commence on November 12.
On Wednesday, prosecutors filed a motion to consolidate the latest indictment with the upcoming retrial, a move opposed by Weinstein’s legal team. Juda Engelmayer, a spokesperson for Weinstein, stated, “We are prepared to go to trial and defend Harvey for the original remaining charges. Yet, we will vociferously and legally challenge any effort to defend this new charge until we fully understand it, can research and investigate the claim, and boldly defend Harvey against.”
Currently, Weinstein remains incarcerated as he appeals a separate 2022 conviction in Los Angeles, where he was found guilty on three sexual assault charges and sentenced to 16 years.
Weinstein is expected back in court for his next hearing on October 2.
This story has been updated with additional information.
