Harvey Weinstein Faces New Sexual Assault Charge Amid Retrial Preparations

Seven years after sexual assault and harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein intensified the #MeToo movement, the former movie mogul has been charged with a new sex crime. This charge comes from an accuser who has never publicly shared her story. Weinstein, who is already awaiting a retrial on previous charges, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a new accusation of forced oral sex at a Manhattan hotel in spring 2006.

The prosecution has kept details about the accuser confidential, and Weinstein’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, claimed he had no knowledge of her identity. According to Lindsay Goldbrum, the woman’s attorney, her client is prepared to testify and seeks to hold Weinstein accountable. The alleged crime is described legally as a “criminal sex act,” and the event purportedly took place between April 29 and May 6, 2006.

Weinstein has consistently denied engaging in any non-consensual sexual activities. Defense attorney Aidala emphasized that his client “never forced himself on anyone.” Weinstein, 72, appeared in court in a wheelchair, recovering from recent emergency surgery. The former studio executive became a central figure in the #MeToo movement in October 2017 after reports by The New York Times and The New Yorker revealed allegations of his behavior and efforts to silence his victims.

Over 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault. His prior trial in New York resulted in a 2020 conviction for rape and sexual assault. However, New York’s highest court recently overturned this conviction, citing unfair trial conditions, and has ordered a retrial. A new charge announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicates that the investigation into Weinstein is ongoing.

Weinstein remains in custody, serving a 23-year sentence from his initial New York trial, along with a 16-year sentence from a 2022 rape conviction in Los Angeles. Weinstein’s lawyers argue health issues have affected him, especially after a heart surgery earlier this month. Discussions continue in court regarding whether the new charge will be integrated into the upcoming retrial, which has been postponed to allow adequate preparation by both sides.

Weinstein, who co-founded Miramax and The Weinstein Company with his brother Bob, has seen his career steeply decline as predictions of his professional remove unfolded after the sexual misconduct allegations surfaced. His companies won multiple Academy Awards, but the impact of the allegations led to the bankruptcy of his film studio in 2018.