Harvey Weinstein Pleads 'Not Guilty' To The Sexual Assault Of Five Women In California Between 2004 And 2013
Convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting five women in the Los Angeles area between the years of 2004 and 2013.
The disgraced film producer appeared in a Los Angeles court room on Wednesday, July 21, where he made his plea to the court. The Los Angeles County District Attorney is charging him with four counts each of forcible rape and forcible oral copulation, two counts of sexual battery by restraint and one count of sexual penetration by use of force.
According to the AP, the former businessman appeared in court sitting "in a wheelchair, wearing a brown jail jumpsuit and face mask."
The DA in the case made it known that justice will be fully served in this case. "Anyone who abuses their power and influence to prey upon others will be brought to justice," District Attorney George Gascón stated.
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Weinstein's appearance in the courtroom comes as he was extradited to Los Angeles from New York for the hearing. The former Miramax owner is serving his 23-year prison term following a New York jury finding him guilty of criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree. His next court date is scheduled for July 29.
One of the charges Weinstein faces in California stems from a woman who claims that the producer raped her at a hotel in Beverly Hills between September 2004 and September 2005. In a separate claim, a woman alleges that he raped her on two separate times at a hotel in Beverly Hills in November 2009 and November 2010.
A third woman came forward alleging that Weinstein also sexually assaulted her at a hotel in Beverly Hills in May 2010. He also allegedly sexually assaulted two more women during separate incidents in 2013.
Despite all of the accusations and prison sentences, Weinstein believes he is innocent. In a statement via his attorneys and spokespeople, they explained, "Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances."
