Longtime Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein formally pleaded not guilty to felony rape and sexual assault charges on Tuesday.
Weinstein’s appearance in Manhattan Supreme Court came after he was indicted by a grand jury last week. Weinstein turned himself into New York police late last month.
Beginning last fall, a flurry of sexual misconduct allegations by dozens of women were levied against Weinstein, helping to spark the #MeToo movement.
The charges are connected to incidents in 2004 and 2013, but the women involved have not been identified.
However, the details of the case at hand appear to match sexual assault accusations from former actress Lucia Evans, who claimed Weinstein coerced her to perform oral sex on him nearly 15 years ago. Another unidentified woman claims Weinstein raped her in a hotel room.
The movie mogul has rejected any nonconsensual sexual activity claims and has maintained his freedom after posting $1 million cash bail according to his attorney, Benjamin Brafman. Brafman remains “confident he’s going to clear his name.”
