Former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has today been charged in New York with rape and several counts of sexual abuse stemming from two separate accusers. Weinstein turned himself in to police earlier today and is now out on bail, wearing a monitoring device.
Dozens of women have made allegations against the former movie producer, including rape and sexual assault, which gave rise to the #MeToo movement. Weinstein denied committing any non-consensual sex acts.
The New York Police Department issued a statement which said that Mr Weinstein "was arrested, processed and charged with rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct for incidents involving two separate women."
The statement thanked "these brave survivors for their courage to come forward and seek justice."
Details of the allegations and of those making the accusations have not yet been officially released but it is thought that former actress Lucia Evans, who said Weinstein forced her into oral sex in 2004, is one of the women whose cases triggered the charges. Actress Paz de la Huerta, who accused Mr Weinstein of raping her at her New York apartment in 2010, is believed be another.
Rose McGown and Asia Argento, who also made allegations against Weinstein, with Argento speaking out against him at last weekend's Cannes Film Festival, tweeted upon hearing the news:
BOOM ðŸ'¥ https://t.co/pn3br3fPXm
— Asia Argento (@AsiaArgento) May 24, 2018
We got you, Harvey Weinstein, we got you
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) May 25, 2018