Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a new indictment charging him with sexually assaulting a woman in a New York City hotel in 2006.
The fallen movie mogul was hit with one count of first-degree criminal sexual act as he awaits retrial on his historic 2020 #MeToo case.
The indictment alleges that Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on a woman once in a lower Manhattan hotel room sometime between April 29, 2006 and May 6 of that year.
Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty to a new sexual assault charge. Seth Wenig/Pool via REUTERSNo details about the new accuser were revealed.
“Thanks to this survivor who bravely came forward, Harvey Weinstein now stands indicted for an additional alleged violent sexual assault,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
Prosecutors said last week that Weinstein had been indicted on new sex-crimes charges unrelated to his 2020 conviction, which was overturned by New York’s highest court and which the Manhattan DA’s Office plans to re-try.
But the indictment wasn’t made public until Weinstein’s arraignment in Manhattan Supreme Court Wednesday.
Weinstein, 72, was brought to court shackled to a wheelchair from Bellevue hospital, where he’s been recovering from emergency heart and lung surgery.
Weinstein arriving at Manhattan Criminal Court to plead not guilty on Sept. 18, 2204. James KeivomThe disgraced producer, who wore a dark grey suit and tie for the hearing, had been jailed at Rikers Island before the near-death health scare.
Defense attorney Arthur Aidala told the judge Weinstein is on 19 different medications, some of which must be taken at particular times — a schedule which has been impossible for him to maintain while jailed.
He claimed that was why Weinstein’s illnesses have continued to get worse.
Weinstein was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a New York City hotel in 2006. JEENAH MOON/POOL/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockBut Justice Curtis Farber said he “doesn’t have jurisdiction” to do anything about the medications.
Weinstein’s re-trial has been tentatively scheduled to begin Nov. 12, but Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg told the judge her office won’t be ready by that date — because prosecutors expect the defense to file motions following the new charge.
Blumberg said January would be a more realistic time for them to be ready for trial. The judge set a hearing for Oct. 2 to discuss scheduling.
Weinstein’s attorney Arthur Aidala speaking to the media outside of Manhattan Criminal Court. James Keivom“Obviously, Mr. Weinstein wants to go to trial as soon as humanly possible,” Aidala said.
Bragg said the investigation into Weinstein “is ongoing,” and encouraged anyone who’d been sexually assaulted to call the office.
Outside court after the hearing, Aidala told reporters the defense had been expecting three additional charges but the grand jury only came back with one. And the lawyer claimed Weinstein, who has long maintained his innocence, has no idea who the new accuser is.
Weinstein leaving Bellevue Hospital on with NYCD ESU officers before going to court. Probe-Media for NY Post
Weinstein was seen holding the books “The Women” by Kristin Hannah and “Live by Night” by Dennis Lehane. Probe-Media for NY PostAttorney Lindsay Goldbrum said in a statement that she represents the new victim in the case, noting the woman hasn’t publicly spoken about her claims before.
“She will be fully prepared to speak her truth at trial to hold Mr. Weinstein accountable before a jury of his peers,” Goldbrum said.
Before the hearing, Weinstein was seen for the first time since surgery leaving the hospital handcuffed and shackled to a wheelchair and holding two books in his hands — one of which was bandaged.
The two books were “The Women” by Kristin Hannah and “Live by Night” by Dennis Lehane.
Aidala told reporters he doesn’t know if Weinstein will be returned to Rikers Island or if he will continue to be held at Bellevue.
But the lawyer noted that a doctor told Weinstein when he left the hospital Wednesday that he should seek additional medical care.
With Post wires






