Harvey Weinstein surrenders to NYC authorities, faces criminal sexual charges

Jayme Deerwester and Erin Jensen USA TODAY

Published 1:20 p.m. UTC May 25, 2018

Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, accused of sexual misconduct by more than 80 women has been arrested, after surrendering to the New York Police Department and Manhattan District Attorney's office Friday morning.

Weinstein turned himself in at NYPD's 1st Precinct around 7:30 a.m ET. With what appeared to be three books in his right hand, Weinstein, exited the vehicle he arrived in, with a brief smirk. 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 Associated Press reported, headed to court for his arraignment.

He is then expected to be released on bail, surrender his passport and be equipped with an electronic monitoring device.

/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

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

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