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Former Hollywood heavyweight, Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty to rape, criminal sex act charges in New York court

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Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty to rape, criminal sex act charges
The top Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein, Tuesday pled not guilty Tuesday to ​charges that he raped one woman and sexually assaulted another
Weinstein, 66, was indicted May 25 for allegedly forcing ​actress ​Lucia Evans to perform oral sex in 2004
Allegedly raping a second woman in 2013 at a DoubleTree hotel in Manhattan, NY
More than 80 women have accused the once powerhouse movie maker of sexual misconduct
Weinstein faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted
Harvey Weinstein and attorney Benjamin Brafman arrive at court on June 5

Disgraced Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein, Tuesday pled not guilty Tuesday to ​charges that he raped one woman and sexually assaulted another.
Looking ashen and wearing a dark suit and black tie, the disgraced movie mogul mumbled, “Not guilty” ​to ​felony charges of rape and criminal sex act before Judge James Burke in Manhattan Supreme Court.
He faces up to 25 years behind bars if convicted.
Weinstein was indicted on Friday on the charges related to two incidents — one in 2004, when he allegedly forced ​actress ​Lucia Evans to perform oral sex, and in 2013, when he allegedly raped a second woman at a DoubleTree hotel in Manhattan.
Weinstein’s attorney Benjamin Brafman blasted the charges in court.
“However reprehensible the crime of rape is, it is equally reprehensible to falsely accuse someone of rape,” he told the judge.
Joan Illuzzi, the top prosecutor handling the case, fired back against Brafman’s comments last month that “Weinstein did not create the casting couch in Hollywood.”
“It was not the people who went out to the courtroom steps and starting talking about a casting couch, undermining the seriousness of these charges,” she said.
“Any denigration of these victims, any playing-down of these victims, is inappropriate.”
Brafman swore off using the term “casting couch” but “not because it’s inappropriate but because of the outcry.”
“My job is to defend specific allegations of criminal conduct,” he explained, “not specific behavior” of Hollywood in general.

Harvey Winstein walks out in handcuffs 2.jpgUntrepentant: A smiling, handcuffed Harvey Weinstein is led into a New York police precinct for his booking on Friday June 1

Brafman also said he will examine whether to ask to sever the two cases.
Late last month, Weinstein, 66, hobbled into a Manhattan precinct to turn himself in on the serious charges. The disgraced movie mogul was arraigned in court on Friday July 1, having been  accused of sexually harassing and abusing more than 80 women — including “Boardwalk Empire” actress Paz de la Huerta, who claimed he raped her twice in 2010.
That lawsuit has expanded as attorney Michael F. Rubin has been accused of seeking to gain information from de la Huerta last fall, to the aid of Weinstein, while also discouraging her from pursuing criminal charges against her alleged rapist.
More than 80 women have accused the fallen moviemaker of sexual misconduct. Three more victims stepped up last month including Melissa Thompson who claims Weinstein raped her at New York’s Tribeca Grand Hotel, in 2011.

Melissa Thompson [left].jpgMelissa Thompson (left) with her lawyer Beth Fagen says Weinstein raped her at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, NY in 2011

On Tuesday, Weinstein arrived at court to a swarm of media and said nothing on his way in and out of the Centre Street building.
He only briefly smirked at photographers when he arrived.
Although Harvey Weinstein was seen smiling Friday as he was led out of an NYPD precinct in handcuffs, he had been  shortly after being hit with a slew of sexual misconduct charges.

Weinstein was charged with rape, criminal sex act, sexual abuse and sexual misconduct for incidents involving two separate women.
The once-powerful producer is free on $1 million bail and must wear a GPS monitoring ankle bracelet.
His next court date is Sept. 20.

Harvey Weinstein and Paz de la Huerta 1.jpgActress Harvey Weinstein [right], says Weinstein [left], raped her twice in 2010

He was cuffed from behind and escorted by a pair of detectives out of the 1st Precinct in Lower Manhattan a little before 9 a.m.
He climbed into a Dodge Durango and headed for Manhattan Criminal Court, where he was to go before a judge.
One of the victims is Lucia Evans, who told The New Yorker that Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex in a Tribeca office in 2004. The second case involves an unnamed woman, sources said.
Weinstein faces up to 25 years behind bars on the top charge of rape.
“The NYPD thanks these brave survivors for their courage to come forward and seek justice,” the department said in a statement. “The arrest and ensuing charges are the result of a joint investigation between the NYPD and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.”

 Ambra Battilana Gutierrez  1.jpgItalian model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez says the scandal of the sexual assault by Weinstein ruined her life and forced her to flee the US.

The 66-year-old disgraced movie mogul appeared  in court Friday morning.
He’s been accused of sexually harassing and abusing more than 80 women — including “Boardwalk Empire” actress Paz de la Huerta, who claimed he raped her twice in 2010.
That lawsuit has expanded as attorney Michael F. Rubin has been accused of seeking to gain information from de la Huerta last fall, to the aid of Weinstein, while also discouraging her from pursuing criminal charges against her alleged rapist.
Notably the Manhattan DA’s Office, had previously come under fire for declining to prosecute him for the alleged sexual assault of Italian model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez.

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