Here's what we know so far...
The past year has been a watershed moment for women, with the New York Times’ investigation of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, seeing over 70 women coming forward with allegations of sexual harassment and abuse against the 66-year-old.
The multiple reports of not only harassing female employees, but also paying off his accusers for decades, are said to date back 30 years, with the revelations leading to Weinstein getting fired from his own company and a third of its all-male board resigning – not to mention, prompting the global #MeToo and #TimesUp movements.
Actresses from Angelina Jolie to Uma Thurman have come forward with stories of their own, and Hollywood heavyweights have been donating their earnings from the Weinstein Company to charities that help sexual assault survivors.
Last month marked a huge step forward for the high profile case, with a grand jury in New York indicting the disgraced producer on charges of rape – just one week after he was initially charged by prosecutors.
According to New York district attorney Cyrus Vance, Harvey Weinstein was one step closer to accountability, potentially facing up to 25 years in prison if he were to be convicted of either of the alleged attacks on the two unnamed women.
Now however, it has emerged that Harvey Weinstein could face life in prison after being charged with sexually assaulting a third woman.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance stated that the disgraced Hollywood producer has been charged with a ‘forcible sexual act against a third woman in 2006’, which is additional to the ‘two counts of predatory sexual assault, a Class A-II felony which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment’.
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault.
‘Our investigation continues,’ announced DA Vance. ‘If you are a survivor of the predatory abuse with which Mr Weinstein is charged, there is still time to pursue justice.’
We will continue to update the story.
