Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty to new sexual assault charge


Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to committing a criminal sexual act in a New York court.

The 72-year-old is facing a new charge over the alleged sexual assault of a woman in a Manhattan hotel in 2006, according to District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg.

“Not guilty,” Weinstein said emphatically when asked for his plea on Wednesday.

Appearing in court in a wheelchair, Weinstein wore a dark suit and a blue tie, and with a large bandage on his right hand.

“Thanks to this survivor who bravely came forward, Harvey Weinstein now stands indicted for an additional alleged violent sexual assault,” Mr Bragg said in a statement.

Separately, Weinstein is awaiting retrial after New York’s top appeals court threw out his rape conviction and 23-year-sentence in April.

The conviction was dismissed on the basis he did not get a fair trial because the judge allowed testimony from women who he was not charged with assaulting.

Weinstein has denied having non consensual sexual encounters with anyone.

He remains in custody serving a 16-year-sentence over the 2013 rape of an actress in LA.

In July he was moved to a New York prison hospital with multiple health problems including Covid and double pneumonia.

Last week he underwent emergency heart surgery, according to his lawyers.

Prosecutors have filed a motion to consolidate the new charge and the pending retrial in the 2020 overturned rape conviction.

A judge is set to rule on that on 2 October.



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