Harvey Weinstein Faces New Rape and Sexual Assault Charges

Harvey Weinstein, the former Hollywood producer whose alleged sexual misconduct sparked the #MeToo movement, has been indicted on new charges by a New York City grand jury. The specific charges are currently under seal, but prosecutors confirmed they involve new accusations of rape and sexual assault against Weinstein.

• Over 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual assault or harassment
• He vehemently denies the allegations, claiming the encounters were consensual
• His 2020 conviction on rape and criminal sexual act charges was overturned in April 2023

Overturned 2020 Rape Conviction

In 2020, Weinstein was convicted of third-degree rape of one woman and first-degree criminal sex act against another woman, for which he was sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, this conviction was overturned in April 2023 by a state appellate court, which ruled that the judge had erred by allowing women to testify about allegations not part of the case.

New York Prosecutors Pursuing New Charges

Following the overturned conviction, New York prosecutors announced their intention to recharge Weinstein for the same crimes and possibly bring forward new charges. This new indictment by the grand jury is a result of that effort.

Retrial Scheduled for November

Weinstein is scheduled for a retrial in November, where he will face the original charges as well as the new charges brought by the grand jury. He will remain in custody until the retrial.

Los Angeles Rape Conviction

In addition to the New York case, Weinstein was found guilty of one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault in a 2022 trial in Los Angeles, for which he was sentenced to 16 years in prison. His legal team is currently appealing that conviction.

Rise and Fall of a Hollywood Titan

In the 1990s and 2000s, Weinstein and his brother Bob were titans of the movie business, producing and distributing critically acclaimed and award-winning films. However, Weinstein's reign came crashing down in 2017 when women started going public with stories of his alleged sexual abuse, leading to a wider reckoning with abuses of power in the entertainment industry and beyond.