25 May 2018•Update: 26 May 2018
By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON
Harvey Weinstein, the entertainment mogul whose alleged sexual abuse kickstarted the #MeToo movement of women coming forward with their stories of sexual abuse, turned himself into police Friday on charges of rape and multiple counts of sexual abuse.
Weinstein, 66, is facing charges from two women in the first court case brought against him.
The disgraced Hollywood titan turned himself in early Friday morning at a police station in lower Manhattan as assembled press and onlookers watched him enter for processing.
He was arraigned on charges of rape, committing a criminal sex act, sex abuse, and sexual misconduct for incidents involving two different women, according to the New York Police Department.
The criminal sex act charge reportedly stems from a 2004 encounter between Weinstein and then-aspiring actress Lucia Evans. In an interview with the New Yorker, Evans said Weinstein forced her into a sexual act during what was supposed to be a script reading at Miramax's Tribeca office in Manhattan.
The victim in the rape charges case has not been identified.
Torrent of allegations
Benjamin Brafman, Weinstein's attorney, told reporters outside of the court house Weinstein will enter a plea of not guilty, calling the charges "constitutionally flawed" and not supported by the evidence.
Brafman further defended his client, saying that while Weinstein's actions may not have been moral, they were not criminal.
"Mr. Weinstein did not invent the casting couch in Hollywood, and to the extent that there is bad behavior in that industry that is not what this is about. Bad behavior is not on trial in this case," he said. "I anticipate that this case will ultimately be resolved favorably as to Mr. Weinstein."
Weinstein has handed his passport over to authorities and posted a $1 million bail payment, and has agreed to electronic monitoring.
The charges against Weinstein are just part of a massive torrent of allegations against him involving dozens of women, including prominent Hollywood actresses such as Rose McGowan and Asia Argento.
The actresses have been at the forefront of the #MeToo movement, which has brought a sea change to American society as women from all walks of life have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse that have toppled powerful men across several industries.
Argento, who alleges Weinstein raped her in 1997 at the Cannes film festival in France, wrote on Twitter: "What took you so long Harvey?"
"Today Harvey Weinstein will take his first step on his inevitable descent to hell. We, the women, finally have real hope for justice," she added.
