Harvey Weinstein Charged With Rape in Los Angeles as N.Y. Trial Starts

Authored by nytimes.com and submitted by nowhathappenedwas

The Los Angeles County district attorney, Jackie Lacey, said Mr. Weinstein has been charged with one felony count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint. He faces up to 28 years in prison if convicted.

“We believe the evidence will show that the defendant used his power and influence to gain access to his victims and then commit violent crimes against them,” Ms. Lacey said in a statement.

There is some overlap between the New York and Los Angeles prosecutions. One of the victims in the Los Angeles case will also be called as a witness in New York to recount her experience with Mr. Weinstein in an effort to establish a pattern of behavior, prosecutors in Los Angeles said.

Mr. Weinstein’s lawyers declined to comment on the latest charges.

Though the authorities in Los Angeles could issue a warrant for Mr. Weinstein’s arrest, it was highly unlikely they would disrupt the trial in New York by seeking his removal to California, or that the judge in New York would allow it.

Still, defense lawyers said that the charges in Los Angeles could make it even harder to find an impartial jury in New York than it already was, as potential jurors are likely to see news accounts of the new allegations.

“If you’re Weinstein’s lawyers, this is another headache to deal with,” said Mark Bederow, a defense lawyer. “It’s all over the news. How are jurors supposed to ignore it?”

The importance of the New York trial to many of Mr. Weinstein’s accusers and their sympathizers was clear on Monday, as protesters gathered outside the State Supreme Court in Manhattan on a damp day. Some held signs with slogans like “justice for survivors” and “coercion is not consent.”

sanskami on January 6th, 2020 at 19:03 UTC »

Walker, Rapist Danger

Pendragon3141 on January 6th, 2020 at 18:43 UTC »

Reminder that Harvey Weinstein doesn't actually need a walker. He's in fine health for his age. This is the same BS Bill Cosby pulled when pretending he was blind during his trial.

MrBobski on January 6th, 2020 at 18:31 UTC »

Pretending to be frail or injured has to be the most obvious fraud a person could try in court. Is he really that dumb or does he think everyone else is? Because i don't believe for a second that he needs that walker.