Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein released on $1M bail over sexual assault allegations


Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has been released on bail of $ 1 million after being indicted in New York with rape and sexual harassment.

66-year-old Weinstein also agreed to use a GPS tracker and submit his passport after surrendering to police on Friday (25/5).

He denies having had non-consensual sex and his lawyer says he will plead not guilty.

Actress Rose McGowan, who accused Weinstein of rape, told the BBC it was "an extraordinary day for the survivors".

"This is a very important moment, a concrete slap to people who abuse power," she said.

"This is just the beginning of the process and if we can finish it, I hope we show up as winners."

More than 70 women accused Weinstein of sexual offenses even though the indictment only stuck with two of them. Some allegations have occurred in the past few decades.

Prosecutors said on Friday that Weinstein had been charged with two counts of rape and one alleged criminal sexual act involving two women, who were not identified.

He arrived at the police station in Manhattan early in the morning, carrying three books. After the photo and fingerprints were taken, he was taken out with his hands cuffed and taken to court.

If found guilty, Harvey Weinstein could face five to 25 years in prison.

Appeared in court briefly, prosecutor Joan Illuzzi said Miramax's founders had "used his position, money and power to lure young women into a situation where he can harass them sexually".

Also read: Brad Pitt Threatened to Kill Weinstein for sexually harassing her, Gwyneth Paltrow Says

Witnesses said Weinstein looked pale and stared blankly while prosecutors outlined a guarantee agreement.
Ben Brafman, told reporters that his client would file a plea of not guilty.

"We will move very quickly to get rid of these allegations," Brafman said. "We believe that the allegations were constitutionally flawed. We believe that the allegations were not supported by factual evidence."

The New York Police Department has issued a statement of gratitude to "brave survivors for their courage to go forward and seek justice".

The identity of one of the women whose allegations prompted the indictment was confirmed on Friday. Former actress Lucia Evans has publicly accused Weinstein of forcing her to have oral sex in 2004.

Weinstein's victims included celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow. Rose McGowan, who also challenged the sexual harassment case, recently said, "I and so many other victims of Harvey Weinstein have given up hope that our rapists will be punished." Today we are one step closer to justice.

Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has been released on bail of $ 1 million after being indicted in New York with rape and sexual harassment.