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Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty in California rape, sexual assault case

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Harvey Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault in California just one day after he was extradited to Los Angeles from New York on a private jet. 

Weinstein, 69, is currently serving a 23-year sentence in New York’s Wende Correctional Facility after a jury found him guilty in March 2020 of rape and sexual assault. He was arraigned in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday on four counts of rape and seven other sexual assault counts related to alleged assaults dating back to 2004. In a brief court appearance, Weinstein’s attorney asked for a hearing to challenge counts 5, 6 and 7 – all relating to sexual assault charges – for statute of limitation reasons. The judge scheduled a new court date for July 29. 

His attorney, Mark Werksman did not ask for bail and none was granted by Judge Tapia.  Weinstein is charged with assaulting five women in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills between 2004 to 2013. He is facing a maximum sentence of 140 years. The charges include four counts of forcible rape, three of forcible oral copulation, two of sexual battery by restraint and one of sexual penetration by use of force. 

Harvey Weinstein maintains his innocence and has stated that any sexual activity was consensual. “We are confident he will be acquitted of all the charges,” Werksman stated. His attorneys had been fighting his extradition, claiming he shouldn’t be moved from his current prison in New York because of ongoing medical treatment. His attorney said Weinstein is suffering from a host of medical conditions. “He has spinal stenosis, he’s going blind in one eye, he’s missing teeth. He really needs urgent medical care,” Werksman said.  

Weinstein’s representative Juda Engelmayer told DailyMail.com that his lawyers had been trying to negotiate an agreement to waive extradition for transfer to LA. “We are disappointed that the LA DA didn’t wait for the judge’s ruling, but we did expect this to happen at some point,” Engelmayer said. “We will be fighting so that Harvey can receive his needed medical care and of course, so that he can be treated fairly. Due process, presumption of innocence and a fair trial are all still his right.”

ARTICLE: PAUL MURDOCH

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE
PHOTO CREDITS: WWNYTV.COM

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Paul Murdoch

Paul, 37, is from Scotland in the UK, but currently lives and works in Bangkok. Paul has worked in different industries such as telemarketing, retail, hospitality, farming, insurance, and teaching, where he works now. He teaches at an all-girls High School in Bangkok. “It’s a lot of work, but I love my job.” Paul has an active interest in politics. His reason for writing for FBA is to offer people the facts and allow them to make up their own minds. Whilst he believes opinion columns have their place, it is also important that people can have accurate news with no bias.

Paul, 37, is from Scotland in the UK, but currently lives and works in Bangkok. Paul has worked in different industries such as telemarketing, retail, hospitality, farming, insurance, and teaching, where he works now. He teaches at an all-girls High School in Bangkok. “It’s a lot of work, but I love my job.” Paul has an active interest in politics. His reason for writing for FBA is to offer people the facts and allow them to make up their own minds. Whilst he believes opinion columns have their place, it is also important that people can have accurate news with no bias.

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