Shortly after Harvey Weinstein handed himself over to the NYPD to be arrested and arraigned for numerous allegations of sexual assaults, moments ago the disgraced former Hollywood exec was officially indicted by a grand jury on charges of rape in the first and third degrees, and criminal sexual act in the first degree.
Commenting on the indictment, Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance said that “this indictment brings the defendant another step closer to accountability for the crimes of violence with which he is now charged. Our office will try this case not in the press, but in the courtroom where it belongs.”
Which is ironic because this is not the first time Cyrus Vance could have prosecuted Weinstein: in fact, as the New Yorker first reported last October, the NY DA previously had evidence of the Hollywood mogul’s sexual advances, however, back then, the Manhattan District Attorney ultimately decided not to press charges, a move which many speculated was the result of Weinstein’s political connections and/or large ssum of money exchanging hands behind the scenes.
“We had the evidence,” a source told the New Yorker, and yet Vance did nothing for obvious reasons.
This time, Vance did not have the luxury of not prosecuting and so the process which ends up with Weinstein, who has recently been liquidating much of his assets to pay for the mounting civil and criminal legal bills, serving time behind bars officially begins.
The full statement by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., on Weinstein’s indicment is below:
“A Grand Jury has voted to indict Harvey Weinstein on charges of Rape in the First and Third Degrees, and Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree.
“This indictment brings the defendant another step closer to accountability for the crimes of violence with which he is now charged. Our office will try this case not in the press, but in the courtroom where it belongs. The defendant’s recent assault on the integrity of the survivors and the legal process is predictable. We are confident that when the jury hears the evidence, it will reject these attacks out of hand.
“I thank the heroic survivors for their strength throughout this process. I also thank Commissioner James O’Neill and members of the New York City Police Department for their dedication to this case. This investigation remains active and ongoing. We continue to urge additional survivors and others with relevant information to call us at 212-335-9373.”
The post Harvey Weinstein Indicted On Rape, Criminal Sexual Act Charges appeared first on crude-oil.news.