Media mogul Harvey Weinstein was released on a €850,000 bail after being charged in New York with rape and sexual abuse.
ADVERTISEMENTThe founder of the Miramax movie studios was released on bail of €850,000 after being charged with rape and sexual abuse by New York police.
"This defendant used his position, money, and power to lure young women into situations where he was able to violate them sexually," said prosecutor Joan Illuzzi.
The New York Police Department issued a statement thanking " brave survivors for their courage to come forward and seek justice."
The identity of one of the women whose accusations prompted charges was confirmed as former actress Lucia Evans by her lawyer on Friday.
Weinstein, 66, agreed to wear a GPS tracker and to give up his passport after turning himself in to police on Friday.
His lawyer Benjamin Brafman said he would be denying the allegations.
"Mr. Weinstein will enter a plea of not guilty. We intend to move very quickly to dismiss these charges. We believe that they are constitutionally flawed, we believe that they are not factually supported by the evidence, and we believe that by the end of the process Mr. Weinstein will be exonerated".
The case has been adjourned until July 30.
Reactions from victims
Actresses Rose McGowan, Asia Argento, and Emma de Caunes were among the first ones to rejoice of the news that Weinstein had been accused of rape.
Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 70 women. The accusations, first reported last year by the New York Times and the New Yorker, gave rise to the #MeToo movement in which hundreds of women have publicly accused powerful men in business, government and entertainment of misconduct.
This is only the beginning of the criminal charges against Weinstein who faces many more accusations of misconduct.