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The Me Too movement, otherwise known as #Metoo, started getting traction almost a year ago in October 2017. This social movement shed light on the prevalence of sexual harassment in the workplace. The crusade was particularly active in Hollywood.
A few of Tinsel Town’s big wigs were thrusted into the spotlight for their predatory history. Arguably, the most prominent is former film producer, Harvey Weinstein. A year after the accusations against Weinstein surfaced, it seems like women who were victimized are finally getting the justice that they deserved.
On July 2, 2018, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. confirmed that the former film producer has been indicted for another charge of a criminal sexual act in the first degree. This indictment comes from a third woman from charges that took place in 2006.
“A Manhattan grand jury has now indicted Harvey Weinstein on some of the most serious sexual offenses that exist under New York’s Penal Law. This indictment is the result of the extraordinary courage exhibited by the survivors who have come forward. Our investigation continues” read the announcement as reported by Vanity Fair.
The district attorney further urges victims of Weinstein to come forward in order to further the charges against the Hollywood producer:
“If you are a survivor of the predatory abuse with which Mr. Weinstein is charged, there is still time to pursue justice. Please call us at 212-335-9373.”
A few hours after the announcement, a representative from the Weinstein camp addressed the indictment in an official statement as reported by The Sun. Benjamin Brafman, Weinstein’s lawyer, reveals that the producer plans to plea not guilty to the new charges. Their camp expects that the tarnished Weinstein name would be vindicated:
“Mr. Weinstein will enter a plea of not guilty to the new charges. Mr. Weinstein maintains that all of these allegations are false and he expects to be fully vindicated. Furthermore to charge Mr. Weinstein as a predator when the interactions were each consensual is simply not justified.”
This is the third time Weinstein was charges with a sex crime. The two previous counts holds a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Harvey Weinstein has vehemently denied charges against him. Despite having turned himself in last May, the Hollywood mogul has maintained his innocence. In a statement from Brafman detailed by The LA Times, the Weinstein camp explains that the fallen producer did not invest the casting couch in Hollywood. They believe that the mogul would eventually be exonerated:
“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. It’s only if you intentionally committed a criminal act, and Mr. Weinstein vigorously denies that. We intend to move very quickly to dismiss these charges. We believe they are constitutionally flawed. We believe they are not factually supported by the evidence, and we believe that in the end of the process, Mr. Weinstein will be exonerated.”
