Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein is facing fresh sexual assault charges, involving a third woman in a case dating back to 2006.
Harvey Weinstein in court in New York (file photo). Photo: AFP / Pool / Getty Images
The new charges include predatory sexual assault carry a sentence of 10 years to life in prison.
The 66-year-old had already pleaded not guilty to rape and other sexual crimes against two other women and has denied ever having non-consensual sex.
His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, could not be reached immediately for comment on Monday. District Attorney Cyrus Vance issued a statement about the new charges saying, "This indictment is the result of the extraordinary courage exhibited by the survivors who have come forward. Our investigation continues."
More than 70 women - mostly young actresses and women in other aspects of the movie business - have accused the Miramax film studio's co-founder of sexual misconduct, including rape, in a series of incidents dating back decades. The accusations gave rise to the #MeToo movement, which has seen hundreds of women publicly accusing powerful men in business, government and entertainment of sexual harassment and abuse.
Mr Weinstein has been free on a $US1 million bail after surrendering in May to face the first set of charges, which came after a months-long investigation by the New York Police Department.
Prosecutors have not named any of the women accusing Mr Weinstein of sexual assault in court papers.
As the accusations against him came out, the Weinstein Co's board fired him, the company filed for bankruptcy in March, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled him.
In years past, the academy had showered him with Oscars for a string of films that helped define independent cinema in the 1990s. Miramax and later the Weinstein Co put out acclaimed movies such as Shakespeare in Love, Pulp Fiction, Sex, Lies and Videotape, The Crying Game, and The King's Speech.
London's Metropolitan Police and Los Angeles prosecutors have said they are reviewing accusations of sexual assault against Weinstein.
- Reuters
