Harvey Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges.
The 66-year-old movie mogul appeared in New York’s Supreme Court on Tuesday (05.06.18), where he formally denied the charges relating to two different women, which – if found guilty – he could face up to 25 years in prison for.
Weinstein – who appeared in court in Manhattan wearing a black suit and tie alongside his lawyer Benjamin Brafman – has repeatedly insisted he’s never had non-consensual sex with anyone.
The former studio head has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 70 women, and is facing further investigations in Los Angeles, London, and by the US federal government.
During his appearance in court, Brafman argued that his client’s case has been prejudiced by the political pressure on the court to secure a guilty verdict.
He also cautioned against the potential impact of the #MeToo movement, which has encouraged women to speak about their experiences of sexual harassment.
Weinstein is currently out on a $1 million deal, while he’s also been required to wear a GPS tracker and surrender his passport.
Meanwhile, Melissa Thompson recently launched a new rape allegation against the producer, accusing Weinstein of luring her into his hotel room when she was meeting with him for a pitch, and then forcibly sexually assaulting her.
A second woman in the suit, actress Caitlin Dulany, alleged that she was assaulted by the producer in 1996 at Cannes Film Festival, whilst actress Larissa Gomes has claimed she was cornered in a hotel room in Toronto in 2000.
Their lawsuit is seeking class-action status, which will allow it to represent what it claims is "hundreds of women" who have been victimised by Weinstein, who was one of the most powerful men in Hollywood at the peak of his career.
Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges
