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Harvey Weinstein, the once-powerful movie mogul whose name became synonymous with the #MeToo movement, has been indicted on new sex crimes charges by a Manhattan grand jury. The indictment, revealed in a court hearing on Thursday, adds to the legal troubles for Weinstein as he prepares for a retrial in New York.
Weinstein, 72, was not present at the hearing due to his recovery from emergency heart surgery earlier this week at a Manhattan hospital. His arraignment on the new charges is scheduled for September 18, though the details of the indictment will remain under seal until then.
The new indictment comes as Weinstein’s legal team and Manhattan prosecutors grapple with the aftermath of his 2020 conviction on rape and sexual assault charges. That conviction was overturned by an appeals court earlier this year, prompting efforts to retry Weinstein. Prosecutors had previously indicated they were presenting evidence of additional allegations to a grand jury, which has now resulted in this new indictment.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has disclosed that the new charges stem from up to three additional allegations against Weinstein, with incidents dating as far back as the mid-2000s. The specific nature of these new charges has not been disclosed, but they represent a significant development in Weinstein’s ongoing legal battles.
The timing of this indictment follows recent news from Britain, where prosecutors announced they would no longer pursue charges of indecent assault against Weinstein. Despite this setback in the UK, the new charges in New York could complicate Weinstein’s legal situation further.
The broader implications of the new charges are yet to be fully understood. It remains to be seen whether they will be incorporated into the retrial related to his previous convictions or be handled as a separate case. Weinstein’s defense team has not yet commented on the new indictment, but the case continues to attract significant attention due to Weinstein’s high profile and the ongoing relevance of the #MeToo movement.
As Weinstein faces mounting legal challenges, the focus remains on the forthcoming retrial and how these new allegations will impact the proceedings. The legal saga of Harvey Weinstein, a key figure in the fight against sexual harassment and abuse, continues to evolve, with significant implications for both his personal future and the broader discourse on accountability and justice.