Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein faces new criminal charges in New York, adding to his already notorious legacy of sexual misconduct. The 72-year-old, who became the face of the #MeToo movement's reckoning, was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on fresh charges, prosecutors revealed on Thursday, September 12, 2024. These allegations involve multiple sexual assaults spanning over a decade, with crimes allegedly taking place at locations like the Tribeca Grand Hotel and a Lower Manhattan residential building.
Weinstein's new charges remain under seal until his arraignment, which is set for September 18. Prosecutors have hinted that these crimes could involve incidents from the mid-2000s, further complicating his legal situation as he awaits a retrial for his overturned 2020 conviction. That conviction, a key victory for the #MeToo movement, was dismissed by New York’s highest court in April 2024, citing procedural errors during the trial.
Harvey Weinstein has been hit with new criminal charges in New York, a prosecutor said in court, as the Manhattan district attorney's office prepares to retry the former movie mogul following the reversal of his rape conviction https://t.co/qJcQMc9NM7 pic.twitter.com/6Fs4A5tJLC
— Reuters Legal (@ReutersLegal) September 12, 2024
The new charges emerge just months after prosecutors had signaled their intention to pursue additional accusations against Weinstein. According to Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg, several more women had come forward, willing to testify in this retrial. While the specific details of the new indictment remain unclear, the Manhattan DA's office had been actively presenting evidence related to up to three uncharged allegations.
These fresh charges cast a long shadow over Weinstein, who is already serving a 23-year sentence for previous sexual assault convictions in California. Convicted in 2022 for raping an Italian model in 2013, he was sentenced to 16 years behind bars. His legal team has appealed that conviction, arguing that he was denied a fair trial in Los Angeles.
BREAKING: Harvey Weinstein indicted on new charges in New York. @lawofruby has the latest. pic.twitter.com/llF5RA6Eou
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 12, 2024
This appeal remains pending, even as the new case in New York moves forward.
Weinstein, co-founder of Miramax and one-time Hollywood kingmaker, has always maintained that any sexual encounters were consensual. Despite his denials, over 80 women have publicly accused him of sexual misconduct, leading to the unraveling of his career and the implosion of his film studio in 2018.
His fall from grace became a watershed moment for the entertainment industry, sparking widespread conversations about sexual harassment and abuse of power in Hollywood.
While Weinstein was not present for the latest hearing—recovering from emergency heart surgery in a New York hospital—his health complications have further delayed his legal proceedings. He has been hospitalized multiple times in recent months due to back problems and other ailments, complicating his time in custody at Rikers Island.
