Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, 70, will be charged with indecently assaulting a woman in London in 1996.
- The Crown Prosecution Service authorizes the Metropolitan Police to charge Weinstein
- He will be charged with two counts of assault on a woman in 1996
- The decision follows the review of the evidence gathered by the Met Police in their investigation
By Mark Duell for MailOnline
Posted: 14:51, 8 June 2022 | Updated: 3:37 PM, June 8, 2022
Harvey Weinstein will be charged by the Metropolitan Police with two counts of assault on modesty against a woman in August 1996, British prosecutors said today.
Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crimes Division, confirmed that Scotland Yard had been authorized to charge the filmmaker.
The charges related to a woman suing in August 1996 in London, and the decision was made after the CPS reviewed the evidence gathered by the Met.
Police said the woman at the center of the charges is now in her 50s and that the two alleged offenses are contrary to section 14 (1) of the Sex Offenses Act 1956.
Former film producer Harvey Weinstein is photographed in New York on February 24, 2020
“The CPS has authorized the Metropolitan Police to charge Harvey Weinstein with two counts of indecent assault on a woman in August 1996,” Ms Ainslie said.
“Charges have been authorized against Harvey Weinstein, 70, following a review of evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in his investigation.
“The Crown Prosecutor’s Office reminds all concerned that the criminal proceedings against the accused are active and that he is entitled to a fair trial.”
A Met police spokesman said today: “Detectives have been authorized by the Crown Prosecutor’s Office to charge Harvey Weinstein, 70, with two counts of indecent assault on a woman in August 1996.
Harvey Weinstein attends pre-trial hearing in Los Angeles, California, July 29, 2021
The decision to charge the ‘CPS’ follows a review of the evidence collected by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation.
Weinstein at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival
“The two offenses of assault on modesty, contrary to section 14 (1) of the Sex Offenses Act 1956, are as follows:
- “Indecent assault (account 1) on a woman who is now 50 years old between July 31 and August 31, 1996 in London
- “Indecent assault (account 2) on a woman who is now 50 years old between July 31 and August 31, 1996 in London
“The Met police have updated all those whose allegations were part of this investigation.”
Weinstein was sentenced in March 2020 to the New York Supreme Court to 23 years in prison for sexual assault in 2006 and rape in another incident in 2013.
The 70-year-old man is currently in a California prison where he is awaiting another trial for alleged sexual assault on five women. He pleaded not guilty.