Mega producer Harvey Weinstein turned himself in to New York police on Friday morning. He was charged with one count of first-degree rape, one count of third-degree rape, one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree. Read on for the details.
Mega producer Harvey Weinstein surrendered today to New York City police, and was charged with rape and other sex crimes. Here’s everything you need to know:
Joan Illuzzi, an attorney with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, said in court that today’s arrest stems from “months of investigation.”
That investigation, she said, revealed Harvey Weinstein “used his position, money and power” to lure young women into going to where he was to sexually assault them.
Mia Farrow, the actress whose son Ronan Farrow reported on the Harvey Weinstein scandal, reached out to one of the mega producer’s accusers on Twitter.
Farrow tweeted at actress Mira Sorvino, who gave her account of Weinstein’s behavior in a New York magazine piece last year. Earlier this morning, Sorvino tweeted a CNN story that reported Weinstein would be charged with rape.
“Today is for you,” Farrow tweeted to Sorvino. “And also for the young women who would surely have become his next victims.”
Here’s the full message:
Jodi Kantor, an investigative reporter for the New York Times who led coverage of the accusations against Harvey Weinstein, has been tweeting about the mega producer now in handcuffs:
She mentioned Weinstein’s threats:
And brought up Weinstein’s reputation as the king of New York City’s Tribeca neighborhood:
And she noted that the wealthy producer will use the same court system as every other American:
Harvey Weinstein’s attorney Benjamin Braffman, when discussing the charges against his client, said Weinstein “did not invent the casting couch,” a reference to a system where powerful men expect women to trade sexual favors for roles in their films.
Harvey Weinstein’s attorney Benjamin Braffman alluded to the #MeToo movement while speaking about jury selection just now, questioning the ability to get a fair jury.
“I anticipate the women who made these allegations, when subjected to cross examination, in the event we even get that far, that the charges will not be believed by 12 people,” Braffman said.
Harvey Weinstein’s attorney Benjamin Braffman said he believes his client will be exonerated:
Harvey Weinstein’s attorney Benjamin Braffman said the producer plans to plead not guilty to the three felony charges against him.
“Mr. Weinstein will enter a plea of not guilty. We intend to move very quickly to dismiss these charges,” Braffman said.
Weinstein faces one count of first-degree rape, one count of third-degree rape, one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., filed felony sex crime charges against Harvey Weinstein for two incidents — one in 2013 and another in 2004, his office said in a statement.
“Today’s charges reflect significant progress in this active, ongoing investigation,” Vance said. “I thank the brave survivors who have come forward, and my Office’s prosecutors who have worked tirelessly on this investigation.”
Here’s a breakdown of the charges:
The mega producer walked into a New York City courthouse carrying an armful of books. Two of those books are biographies about men in the entertainment business.
The book with the red cover is “Something Wonderful” by Todd Purdum. It’s a nonfiction about the relationship between Broadway legends Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.
Another book Weinstein brought with him is “Elia Kazan: A Biography” by Richard Schickel, another nonfiction about the famed American director.
Additional reporting by CNN’s Paul Murphy
A New York judge set a staggering $10 million bond for Harvey Weinstein. He can also pay $1 million in cash.
Weinstein also had to surrender his passport and has to wear a GPS tracking device.
President Trump was just asked his reaction to Harvey Weinstein’s arrest this morning. He responded: “I don’t know anything about it.”
Trump was asked a follow-up and replied, “I’m not familiar with the case. But it’s really too bad. Really too bad.”
The actress, who is also one of Weinstein’s accusers, tweeted this as he arrived in court:
McGowan publicly accused the mega-producer of rape in October.
Harvey Weinstein’s arraignment is happening now at a New York City courthouse.
As his attorney Benjamin Braffman walked in, he told the media, “I’ll talk to you after court.”
Harvey Weinstein faces multiple charges of rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct stemming from two cases.
The criminal sex act charge stems from a case involving Lucia Evans, according to a source familiar with the investigation. Evans alleges Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him in his Tribeca office in 2004.
The allegations: The aspiring actress first spoke of her allegations against Weinstein to The New Yorker last fall saying, “He’s a big guy. He overpowered me.”
She added, “I just sort of gave up. That’s the most horrible part of it, and that’s why he’s been able to do this for so long to so many women: people give up, and then they feel like it’s their fault.”
The victim in the rape case leading to first and second degree rape charges has not been publicly identified, the source says.
In the past months, after the New Yorker article was published, Evans has not responded to any requests for comment by CNN.
Harvey Weinstein was walked into the New York County Supreme Court moments ago.
Earlier today, he turned himself into a New York Police Department station, where he was charged with rape, a criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct for incidents involving two separate women. He left the police precinct in handcuffs.
Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was just led out of a New York Police Department precinct in handcuffs.
He turned himself in earlier this morning, and he was charged with rape, a criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct. for incidents involving two separate women.
Here’s the moment:
The New York Police Department released a statement confirming Harvey Weinstein’s arrest and thanking the “brave survivors for their courage to come forward.”
Weinstein was charged with rape, a criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct.
Here’s the full statement:
Asia Argento, an Italian actress who is one of the dozens of women who have accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconducted, just tweeted a clip of news coverage showing him surrendering.
She told CNN: “After decades of abusing women with impunity, finally, the beginning of the end of Harvey Weinstein’s reign of terror. I wish I could say this brings me peace. Unfortunately, the damage he has done to women can never be undone. He belongs in prison.”
Asia Argento confirmed previously her account to CNN after her allegations were first reported in the New Yorker.
Manhattan prosecutors charged Weinstein Friday morning with Rape, Criminal Sex Act, Sex Abuse and Sexual Misconduct for incidents involving two separate women.
But dozens of other women have come forward publicly to accuse Weinstein of misconduct after reports in 2017 about his treatment of women, including actresses with whom he worked.
Harvey Weinstein walked into a New York police precinct office this morning through a flurry of reporters and photographers.
It was a scene not unlike the red carpet walks he used to do, further highlighting how far the disgraced Hollywood producer has fallen since dozens of women came forward in the New York Times and the New Yorker to publicly accuse him of sexual misconduct.
Here’s the moment Weinstein walked into the precinct:
