More than 70 women have accused the co-founder of the Miramax film studio and Weinstein Co of s.e.xual misconduct, including rape, with some allegations dating back decades.
Film producer Harvey Weinstein surrendered to New York City police on Friday on charges of rape and s.e.xual abuse and was taken to court in handcuffs, months after he was toppled from Hollywood’s highest ranks by scores of women accusing him of misconduct.
He has denied having non-consensual s.e.x with anyone.
The accusations, first reported by the New York Times and the New Yorker last year, gave rise to the #MeToo movement in which hundreds of women have publicly accused powerful men in business, government, and entertainment of misconduct.
Weinstein, 66, is charged with rape, s.e.xual misconduct, s.e.x abuse and committing a criminal s.e.x act against two women, the New York Police Department said in a statement, which did not identify the women.
Weinstein, wearing a dark jacket over a blue sweater and white open-collared shirt and dark jeans, gave a weak smile as police officers escorted him inside a lower Manhattan police station at about 7:25 am EDT (1125 GMT).
He carried thick books under his right arm, including what appeared to be biographies of the Broadway musical duo of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and Elia Kazan, the director of such classic Hollywood films as “On the Waterfront“ and “A Streetcar Named Desire.” About 90 minutes later, Weinstein left the police station in handcuffs, flanked by two officers.
He was due to appear later in the day for arraignment at a Manhattan courthouse where a judge is expected to release him on bail, according to media reports.
Weinstein’s spokesman Juda Engelmayer and his lawyer Benjamin Brafman both declined to comment to Reuters on Thursday on the imminent charges.
The charges followed a months-long investigation that involved the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
Source: Times Live
