Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty in New York court to new sex crime charge
NEW YORK -- Harvey Weinstein appeared in a New York courtroom on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to one count of a criminal sex act in the 1st degree.
The new charges were announced last week, but the indictment was sealed until the 72-year-old disgraced Hollywood mogul could be medically cleared to attend the arraignment. He was unable to attend the initial court hearing, because he was at Bellevue Hospital recovering from emergency heart and lung surgery.
It's alleged that on one occasion between April 29, 2006 and May 6, 2006, Weinstein engaged in oral sexual conduct with a woman, allegedly by forcible compulsion in a Lower Manhattan hotel.
Attorney Lindsay M. Goldbrum, who represents that woman, released a statement that reads in part, "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."
Weinstein was already set to be re-tried in mid November after New York's highest appeals court overturned his 2020 conviction on rape and sex assault, ruling the judge unfairly allowed other women to testify about allegations not a part of the case.
Manhattan prosecutors want to consolidate the new indictment with the re-trial because they argue it will involve overlap and that separate trials would be burdensome and wasteful. They also told the judge Wednesday the set trial date of Nov. 12 for the re-trial was unrealistic.
"We're vehemently opposed to consolidation. This is a new case handed down today from 2006. We have a lot of work to do, find out who this person is, do investigation," attorney Arthur Aidala said.
Aidala added, "He never forced himself on anybody."
Weinstein is due back in court on Oct. 2 for the judge's decision on motion to consolidate.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office says the investigation is ongoing and urge anyone who has been sexually assaulted to reach out to his office.
Once the New York cases are complete, Weinstein is expected to return to California to serve his pending 16-year sentence for a separate rape conviction.