Harvey Weinstein formally charged with rape and a criminal sex act; posts $1M bail

Jayme Deerwester and Erin Jensen USA TODAY

Published 2:10 p.m. UTC May 25, 2018

Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, accused of sexual misconduct by more than 80 women appeared in court Friday following his surrendering to the New York Police Department and Manhattan District Attorney's office Friday morning and subsequent arrest.

Weinstein did not enter a plea and stayed close to his attorney, Benjamin Brafman. Brafman turned over his client's passport and said Weinstein would agree to wear an electronic monitoring device, paid for at his own expense. He also noted he had a cashier's check for Weinstein's $1 million bail.

Weinstein was instructed he could only travel in New York state and Connecticut. Should he desire to go to go to another state, he has to seek permission. Weinstein has received a grand jury notice and by May 30 will opt to testify or not.

The victim has received an order of protection and will be identified to the court, prosecution and defense but will otherwise remain under seal.

The next hearing was scheduled for July 30.

Weinstein turned himself in at NYPD's 1st Precinct around 7:30 a.m ET. With books The Associated Press identified as Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution and Elia Kazan about the stage and film director, in his right hand, Weinstein exited the vehicle he arrived in. Noticeably struggling to walk, he hobbled into the precinct around 7:30 a.m., clad in a dark blazer, and white-collared shirt beneath a blue sweater.

Weinstein left the station before 9 a.m. in handcuffs, the AP reported, headed to court for his arraignment.

As Weinstein headed into a Manhattan courthouse, AP says he was questioned by the crowd. "You sorry, Harvey?" someone shouted. The question "What can you say?" was also raised. In reply, Weinstein softly shook his head and answered "No."

/The NYPD told USA TODAY in a statement Friday that Weinstein was processed and faces charges of rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct stemming for interactions with two female individuals.

Police also expressed their gratitude to Weinstein's accusers. "The NYPD thanks these brave survivors for their courage to come forward and seek justice," the statement read. "The arrest and ensuing charges are the result of a joint investigation between the NYPD and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office."

Police said more information would be released once it becomes available. USA TODAY has also reached out to the DA's office for comment.

Weinstein has maintained that he never had non-consensual sex with any of his accusers. USA TODAY has reached out to Weinstein's rep for comment surrounding his surrender Friday.

Weinstein's surrender comes nearly eight months after The New York Times exposed three decades of alleged sexual misconduct ranging from harassment to rape from accusers including Ashley Judd, Rose McGowan, Salma Hayek, Lupita Nyong'o and Gwyneth Paltrow. Soon afterward, Weinstein decamped to Arizona to seek treatment.

Weinstein has been under investigation for months in New York, Los Angeles and London.

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Several of the actresses who have made allegations against Weinstein, including McGowan and Annabella Sciorra, applauded his impending arrest on social media.

“The justice system has been something very elusive,” McGowan said. “I hope in this case it works. Because it’s all true. None of this was consensual.”

Weinstein’s attorney, Benjamin Brafman, declined to comment.

Weinstein became a larger-than-life figure in Hollywood as co-founder of the "mini-major" studios Miramax (started in 1979) and The Weinstein Company (2005), producing and distributing awards-friendly films like Oscar best-picture winners The Artist and The King’s Speech.

The domineering studio head amassed tremendous influence with his strong personality, his ability to identify and champion artistic projects, and his track record of Oscar success — the latter cemented when Weinstein's Shakespeare in Love was a shock best-picture winner over Steven Spielberg's heavily favored Saving Private Ryan in 1999.

The Weinstein scandal has triggered a cascade of accusations against Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., Charlie Rose, Matt Lauer and Morgan Freeman, among others.

Contributing: Maeve McDermott, The Associated Press

More: Gwyneth Paltrow tells Howard Stern her ex Brad Pitt threatened to 'kill' Harvey Weinstein

More: List: All of the Hollywood power players accused of sexual assault or harassment

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