Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty to new sex crime charge

Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to committing a criminal sexual act in a New York court.

The 72-year-old is facing a new charge over the alleged sexual assault of a woman in a Manhattan hotel in 2006, according to District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg.

"Not guilty," Weinstein said emphatically when asked for his plea on Wednesday.

Appearing in court in a wheelchair, Weinstein wore a dark suit and a blue tie, and with a large bandage on his right hand.

“Thanks to this survivor who bravely came forward, Harvey Weinstein now stands indicted for an additional alleged violent sexual assault," Mr Bragg said in a statement.

Separately, Weinstein is awaiting retrial after New York's top appeals court threw out his rape conviction and 23-year-sentence in April.

The conviction was dismissed on the basis he did not get a fair trial because the judge allowed testimony from women who he was not charged with assaulting.

Weinstein has denied having non consensual sexual encounters with anyone.

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He remains in custody serving a 16-year-sentence over the 2013 rape of an actress in LA.

In July he was moved to a New York prison hospital with multiple health problems including Covid and double pneumonia.

Last week he underwent emergency heart surgery, according to his lawyers.

Prosecutors have filed a motion to consolidate the new charge and the pending retrial in the 2020 overturned rape conviction.

A judge is set to rule on that on 2 October.