Harvey Weinstein indicted in Los Angeles over new rape cases
Harvey Weinstein, a fallen Hollywood tycoon already convicted in New York of rape and sexual assault and accused of similar cases by the California courts, was charged again Friday in Los Angeles for the rape of two women.
Share October 2, 2020 4:59 p.m. Updated at 5:00 p.m. Share Harvey Weinstein indicted in Los Angeles for new rape cases Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES – Harvey Weinstein, fallen Hollywood tycoon already convicted in New York of rape and sexual assault and accused of similar cases by the Californian justice, was indicted again Friday in Los Angeles for the rape of two women.
The new charges relate to “an incident which occurred between September 2004 and 2005 during which Weinstein allegedly raped a woman in a hotel in Beverly Hills”, indicate the services of the prosecutor of Los Angeles, Jackie Lacey.
The 68-year-old ex-producer is also “accused of raping another woman twice, in November 2009 and November 2010”, still in a hotel in Beverly Hills, adds the statement, which did not disclose the identity or details of the victims.
In total, Harvey Weinstein is accused in Los Angeles of rape and sexual assault on five women. If convicted, he faces up to 140 years in prison.
In California as in New York, Mr. Weinstein denies the facts and assures that all the sexual relations with which he is accused were consented.
He had already been accused since January of having forcibly entered a woman's hotel room to rape her, on February 18, 2013, then of assaulting another the next day in a hotel room in Beverly Hills. He was subsequently charged with assaulting a woman, still in Beverly Hills, in May 2010.
“I am grateful to the first women who spoke out against these crimes and whose courage gave the strength to others to stand out,” prosecutor Jackie Lacey said Friday.
“The willingness of the last victims to stand as witnesses against a powerful man provides us with the additional evidence we need to build a damning case,” she said.
Ms Lacey's services have begun transfer proceedings so that Mr Weinstein, currently imprisoned in New York state after his spring sentencing to 23 years, can be tried in California.
A hearing on this subject is scheduled for December 11 in Buffalo.
Nearly 90 women have so far publicly accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment, sexual assault or rape. Most of the alleged facts are time-barred.
