Harvey Weinstein Indicted on Rape Charges by New York Grand Jury
On Wednesday, a Manhattan grand jury officially indicted Harvey Weinstein on charges of rape and criminal sexual act, according to the Associated Press.
“This indictment brings the defendant another step closer to accountability for the crimes of violence with which he is now charged,” Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said in a statement. “Our office will try this case not in the press, but in a courtroom where it belongs.”
In the statement, Vance also thanked the “heroic survivors for their strength throughout this process” and thanked the New York City Police Department for its dedication to the case. The statement ended by urging any other potential victims to come forward with their allegations.
Weinstein did not testify in front of the grand jury on Wednesday. According to Weinstein’s lawyer Benjamin Brafman, he did not have adequate time to prepare his client for testimony.
“After being unfairly denied access to critical information about this case that was needed to defend him before the grand jury, Mr. Weinstein’s attorneys decided that there was not sufficient time to properly prepare Mr. Weinstein,” Brafman said in a statement. Brafman added that he felt an indictment was “inevitable” regardless of what his client may say on the stand due to “unfair political pressure.”
Weinstein turned himself in to authorities last week to face charges.
The disgraced Hollywood producer will now face the accusations brought by Lucia Evans, who says she met Weinstein in 2004. In October, Evans gave an in-depth interview to The New Yorker where she explained that during a one-on-one meeting with Weinstein, she was forced to perform oral sex on him.
“He’s a big guy. He overpowered me,” Evans said. “I just sort of gave up.”
Weinstein is currently out on $1 million bail and is required to wear an ankle bracelet as he awaits trial. To date, Weinstein has denied all allegations against him.
Related Content:
Harvey Weinstein Turns Himself In to Authorities on Sexual Assault Charges
Harvey Weinstein’s Accusers Are Reacting to His Arrest on Twitter: ‘We Got You’
Here’s How Harvey Weinstein’s Arrest Went Down