Harvey Weinstein turns himself in to police

By Meg Wagner, CNN

Updated 12:39 p.m. ET, May 25, 2018
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12:39 p.m. ET, May 25, 2018

Harvey Weinstein was arrested today. Here's how it happened.

Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

Mega producer Harvey Weinstein surrendered today to New York City police, and was charged with rape and other sex crimes. Here's everything you need to know:

  • The arrest: Mega producer Harvey Weinstein turned himself in to New York police this morning.
  • The charges: One count of first-degree rape, one count of third-degree rape, one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree. They are for two incidents — one in 2013 and another in 2004 — involving two separate women.
  • The bond: A judge just set Weinstein's bond at $10 million. He also had to surrender his passport and will wear a GPS device.
  • Other accusations: While the charges are for accusations from two women, dozens of others have come forward to accuse Weinstein of misconduct after reports in 2017 about his treatment of women.
  • What his lawyer said: Benjamin Braffman told reporters that Weinstein plans to enter a not guilty plea and said he's confident his client will be exonerated. He added that he wants jurors "who are not consumed by the movement," alluding to #MeToo.
  • What the accusers said: Actress Rose McGowan tweeted, "We got you, Harvey Weinstein, we got you." Meanwhile, Italian actress Asia Argento said she was "glued to the screen" while watching Weinstein's arrest.

10:58 a.m. ET, May 25, 2018

DA: Weinstein "used his position, money and power" to lure young women

From CNN’s Sonia Moghe

Jefferson Siegel-Pool via Getty Images
Jefferson Siegel-Pool via Getty Images

Joan Illuzzi, an attorney with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, said in court that today’s arrest stems from “months of investigation.”

That investigation, she said, revealed Harvey Weinstein “used his position, money and power” to lure young women into going to where he was to sexually assault them.

10:58 a.m. ET, May 25, 2018

Mia Farrow tweets to one of Weinstein's accusers: "Today is for you"

Mia Farrow, the actress whose son Ronan Farrow reported on the Harvey Weinstein scandal, reached out to one of the mega producer's accusers on Twitter.

Farrow tweeted at actress Mira Sorvino, who gave her account of Weinstein's behavior in a New York magazine piece last year. Earlier this morning, Sorvino tweeted a CNN story that reported Weinstein would be charged with rape.

"Today is for you," Farrow tweeted to Sorvino. "And also for the young women who would surely have become his next victims."

Here's the full message:

10:50 a.m. ET, May 25, 2018

What the woman who broke the Weinstein story is saying today

Jodi Kantor, an investigative reporter for the New York Times who led coverage of the accusations against Harvey Weinstein, has been tweeting about the mega producer now in handcuffs:

She mentioned Weinstein's threats:

And brought up Weinstein's reputation as the king of New York City's Tribeca neighborhood:

And she noted that the wealthy producer will use the same court system as every other American:

10:29 a.m. ET, May 25, 2018

Attorney: "Weinstein did not invent the casting couch in Hollywood"

Harvey Weinstein's attorney Benjamin Braffman, when discussing the charges against his client, said Weinstein "did not invent the casting couch," a reference to a system where powerful men expect women to trade sexual favors for roles in their films.

"My job is not to defend behavior. My job is to defend something that is criminal behavior. Bad behavior, Mr. Weinstein did not invent the casting couch in Hollywood, and to the extent that there is bad behavior in that industry, that is not what this is about. Bad behavior is not on trial in this case."

10:15 a.m. ET, May 25, 2018

Weinstein's attorney wants jurors "who are not consumed by the movement"

Harvey Weinstein's attorney Benjamin Braffman alluded to the #MeToo movement while speaking about jury selection just now, questioning the ability to get a fair jury.

"I anticipate the women who made these allegations, when subjected to cross examination, in the event we even get that far, that the charges will not be believed by 12 people," Braffman said.

"Assuming we get 12 fair people who are not consumed by the movement that seems to have overtaken this case."

10:09 a.m. ET, May 25, 2018

Lawyer: We believe "Weinstein will be exonerated"

Harvey Weinstein's attorney Benjamin Braffman said he believes his client will be exonerated:

"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 at the end of the process Mr. Weinstein will be exonerated."

10:08 a.m. ET, May 25, 2018

Lawyer: Weinstein plans to plead not guilty

Harvey Weinstein's attorney Benjamin Braffman said the producer plans to plead not guilty to the three felony charges against him.

"Mr. Weinstein will enter a plea of not guilty. We intend to move very quickly to dismiss these charges," Braffman said.

Weinstein faces one count of first-degree rape, one count of third-degree rape, one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree.

10:01 a.m. ET, May 25, 2018

Here are the charges against Weinstein

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., filed felony sex crime charges against Harvey Weinstein for two incidents — one in 2013 and another in 2004, his office said in a statement.

“Today’s charges reflect significant progress in this active, ongoing investigation,” Vance said. “I thank the brave survivors who have come forward, and my Office’s prosecutors who have worked tirelessly on this investigation."

Here's a breakdown of the charges: