Los Angeles charges announced against Harvey Weinstein as his Manhattan trial begins

Source: Washington Post



Harvey Weinstein was charged Monday with a pair of alleged sexual assaults in Los Angeles, hours after the frail-looking former Hollywood tycoon slid his walker into a Manhattan courtroom for the kickoff of his criminal trial there.

Weinstein — visibly aged since his May 2018 arrest in New York — was in court with his five attorneys for a final conference before jury selection formally begins his long-awaited trial for rape, criminal sex act and predatory sexual assault. It is unclear if the charges on the West Coast will affect plans to proceed with jury pre-screening in Manhattan Supreme Court Tuesday morning. Hundreds of prospective panel members are expect to file into Justice James Burke’s courtroom for an initial round of dismissals.

At Monday morning’s conference, Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala made a request for the jury to be sequestered in the event Los Angeles or another jurisdiction brings charges once the trial starts. The request was denied — before Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey made public that she would announce charges at 11 a.m. on the West Coast.

“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,” Lacey said. “I want to commend the victims who have come forward and bravely recounted what happened to them. It is my hope that all victims of sexual violence find strength and healing as they move forward.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/los-angeles-charges-announced-against-harvey-weinstein-as-his-manhattan-trial-begins/2020/01/06/74f3fb20-30b4-11ea-9313-6cba89b1b9fb_story.html