Harvey Weinstein charged with rape, sexual abuse by New York police

HARVEY Weinstein has been charged with rape but it was his reaction before the cameras that sent people wild.

IT WAS the moment the #MeToo movement had been waiting for: Harvey Weinstein in handcuffs.

The former powerhouse movie producer smiled for cameras as he was handcuffed and escorted from New York Police Department's First Precinct to a courthouse Friday morning (local time) facing rape and criminal sex act charges — a searing reckoning for the man who became a symbol of a worldwide outcry over sexual misconduct. Weinstein had earlier surrendered himself to authorities.

The reaction to Weinstein’s smirk was fierce with many people taking to social media. They said his beaming face made them feel sick.

The fact that Harvey Weinstein was smiling when they brought him out of the precinct in handcuffs just makes my skin crawl. What a disgusting human being.

— springboob squirepin (@sherrrylynne) May 25, 2018

Harvey Weinstein smiling while being arrested makes me want to vomit, he really doesn’t care

— Sarah King (@Kinnngx3) May 25, 2018

Harvey Weinstein smiling as he turns himself over to the police for felony rape charges is the most overconfident I’ve ever seen an overconfident male. pic.twitter.com/rS7gsTOO31

— laura matlin (@matlinlaura) May 25, 2018

A smiling, handcuffed Harvey Weinstein is escorted to a waiting police vehicle this morning en route to a New York City courthouse after he was charged with rape and other crimes. https://t.co/uoguSowXHs pic.twitter.com/COSXtT6UZD

— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) May 25, 2018

He stared grimly as he appeared in a Manhattan court where he agreed to post US$1 million cash bail, wear an electronic monitor and not travel beyond New York and Connecticut.

Weinstein didn’t enter a plea. That’s common at this stage in a criminal case in New York.

“This defendant used his position, money and power to lure young women into situations where he was able to violate them sexually,” Manhattan Assistant Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon said later, in words that brought raised eyebrows from the otherwise stony-faced Weinstein.

Harvey Weinstein emerges from New York Police Department's First Precinct smiling after he was charged with rape and other sex crimes. Picture: Getty/AFP

The charges stem from encounters with two of the dozens of women — some famous, some not — who have accused him of sexual misdeeds.

The rape charge involves a woman who has not come forward publicly; the other is onetime aspiring actress Lucia Evans, who was among his first accusers.

Weinstein has consistently denied any allegations of nonconsensual sex. His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said Friday that he would fight to get the charges dismissed.

And he began to take aim at the accusations and accusers, noting that the alleged attacks weren’t reported to police when they happened and suggesting potential jurors wouldn’t believe the women.

“Assuming,” he added, “we get 12 fair people who are not consumed by the movement that seems to have overtaken this case.”

Asked about the raft of other allegations against Weinstein, Mr Brafman said the case was a question of crime, not bad behavior.

“Mr. Weinstein did not invent the casting couch in Hollywood,” he said.

AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT

A lawyer representing Evans called his arraignment on criminal charges “an emotional moment.”

Evans says Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex in his office in 2004.

Weinstein has been charged with attacking Evans and raping another, unidentified woman at a hotel in 2013.

Evans’ lawyer Carrie Goldberg told The Associated Press that “we are relieved and grateful that justice is coming, but we also mourn the cases where it didn’t.”

She also says her “brave and beautiful client has sacrificed her privacy and peace to come forward” and asks that she be left alone.

Another of Harvey Weinstein’s accusers said she was “elated” at seeing him indicted for rape and sex crime.

Louise Godbold was one of dozens of actresses, models and ex-employees who went public last year with bombshell allegations of sexual assault and harassment.

“I’m glad we’re finally seeing something that looks like closure,” she said, a 55-year-old former film producer, who heads a parenting and education NGO in Los Angeles.

Rose McGowan, who was one of the first women to come forward publicly about Weinstein tweeted: “We got you, Harvey Weinstein, we got you.” Picture: AP

Rose McGowan, who was one of the first women to come forward publicly about Weinstein toldthe Associated Press: “I hope this gives hope to victims and survivors everywhere, that we are one step closer to justice. Because one win is a win for all of us.”

There have also been plenty of pleased reactions on Twitter.

“Today Harvey Weinstein will take his first step on his inevitable descent to hell. We, the women, finally have real hope for justice,” Weinstein accuser Asia Argento tweeted.

Another accuser Lauren Sivan tweeted: “It’s been a long time coming and today my fellow victims and I rejoice and pray no one ever underestimates the power of women when we stand together + scream the truth #WeSpoke #MeToo #TimesUp #LockHimUp.”

In a statement, The Women’s March said they hope the courage of the women who came forward will “continue to inspire others to break their silence.”

The journalist who helped uncover the story, Ronan Farrow, said: “For every woman who spoke in this story, it’s an incredible and unexpected moment”. Mr Farrow won a Pulitzer Prize for his Weinstein coverage in The New Yorker.

Allegations from dozens of women against the once-powerhouse producer catalysed what became known as the #MeToo movement, a worldwide reckoning about sexual misconduct.

London’s Metropolitan Police have also said they are investigating an allegation of sexual assault against Weinstein, while prosecutors in Los Angeles said in February they were reviewing three accusations of sexual assault against him.

Weinstein was led from the police station in handcuffs and flanked by officers. He is due to appear in court later this morning. Picture: MEGA

Weinstein’s lawyer said in a May court filing that federal prosecutors in New York had opened a separate criminal investigation into the allegations.

WEINSTEIN SURRENDERS

The former Hollywood producer — wearing a black blazer and light blue sweater and carrying three books — walked past a swarm of media and into the First Precinct in Lower Manhattan around 7:30am on Friday morning (local time) for fingerprinting.

He didn’t say a word, according to Page Six.

Sources said Weinstein will be charged with first and third-degree rape related to one case and criminal sex act related to another.

MORE: Cate Blanchett says Weinstein harassed her too

MORE: Harvey Weinstein’s wife breaks her silence

Harvey Weinstein was expected to surrender on Friday morning local time, citing unnamed law enforcement officials. Picture: AP

The reports surfaced with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and New York police department have been investigating Weinstein for months.

The 66-year-old father of five will then go before a judge in Manhattan Supreme Court, where a grand jury handed down indictment charges of first- and third-degree rape and criminal sex act.

He’s accused of forcing then-aspiring actress Lucia Evans to perform oral sex in 2004 and twice raping “Boardwalk Empire” actress Paz de la Huerta in 2010.

The charges come seven months after scathing details of Weinstein’s alleged sexual abuse of a slew of women emerged in separate reports by the New Yorker and New York Times.

MORE: ‘He groomed me’ — Weinstein accuser’s horrifying claims

Harvey Weinstein and his fashion designer wife Georgina Chapman, who only recently broke her silence on the scandal engulfing her husband. Picture: AFP/Getty Images/Pascal Le Segretain

Weinstein with Sharon Stone at an AIDS charity event prior to his downfall. Picture: AP

Weinstein’s career went down in flames last October over sexual abuse allegations following bombshell articles in The New York Times and New Yorker magazine, which sparked a sexual harassment watershed across the United States.

More than 100 women have since accused the 66-year-old of impropriety going back 40 years and ranging from sexual harassment to assault and rape.

The twice-married father of five has been investigated by British and US police, but has not yet been charged with any crime. He denies having non-consensual sex and has reportedly been in treatment for sex addiction.

— With AP