Weinstein pleads not guilty to sexual assaults in California

Weinstein maintains his innocence and contends that any sexual activity was consensual.Los Angeles prosecutors first charged Weinstein in January 2020, just as jury selection was getting underway in the New York City case.More charges were added later in the year, and in March, he was indicted by an LA County grand jury. Rumors about Weinstein’s behavior swirled in film industry circles for decades, but he silenced many accusers with payoffs, nondisclosure agreements and the fear that he could crush their careers.“Anyone who abuses their power and influence to prey upon others will be brought to justice,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement Wednesday.The Los Angeles charges came from a task force established to tackle sexual misconduct in Hollywood as #MeToo gained momentum.Weinstein and porn performer Ron Jeremy are among the few charged by the team, which declined to prosecute more than 20 famous men because the allegations against them were too old or could not be corroborated.