Harvey Weinstein indicted on new sexual assault allegations in New York
NEW YORK – A Manhattan grand jury has indicted Harvey Weinstein in connection to new sexual assault allegations, according to prosecutors. The indictment detailing the allegations, however, will likely remain sealed until Weinstein is arraigned. It could include sexual assault allegations from three women, prosecutors said at a separate hearing last week.
The disgraced movie mogul was not present at the Thursday hearing because he was not medically cleared to attend after an emergency procedure on his heart and lungs earlier this week. Weinstein was being treated in the intensive care unit at Bellevue Hospital until Wednesday, his attorney, Arthur Aidala, said.
Prosecutors began presenting a case to the grand jury in mid-August. They did not identify the three accusers by name, but described their allegations at the hearing last week. One alleged assault occurred at a residential building in lower Manhattan in the winter months between 2005 and 2006, prosecutors said. Another accuser is said to have been sexually assaulted in a hotel in Tribeca in May 2016.
A third women has alleged Weinstein sexually assaulted her at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, according to the hearing transcript. A source with knowledge of the matter told CNN that alleged assault is said to have occurred during in 2006. Prosecutors have said the new indictment is not tied to Jessica Mann and Mimi Haley, whose allegations are tied to the charges Weinstein is set to be retried on November 12.
The DA’s office wants to combine the two cases. Prosecutors could be ready to try Weinstein on the new indictment in November “with all of our survivors,” Blumberg said in court. Aidala vehemently opposed the idea, calling it laughable to suggest it was ethical for Weinstein’s defense counsel to defend him on the new indictment two months from now. (CNN)