Today Harvey Weinstein has surrendered to New York police. He's expected to finally face sexual misconduct charges following allegations made against him, which sparked an international resurgence of the #MeToo movement last year.
Law enforcement officials told The New York Times that Weinstein will be charged with first-degree rape and third-degree rape in one case, and first-degree criminal sex act in a separate case. This is also the first time that Weinstein will face charges since the first public accusations were made back in 2017.
The victim in the rape case has not been publically identified however The Times reported that the latter charge is related to Weinstein’s interaction with actress Lucia Evans who, like actress Asia Argento, [told The New Yorker](https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/from-aggressive-overtures-to-sexual-assault-harvey-weinsteins-accusers-tell-their-stories-stories) last October about an instance when she was allegedly forced to perform sex acts on Weinstein in what she thought was meant to be a casting meeting. New York police have reportedly also been investigating allegations of rape made by Paz de la Huerta.
Having previously denied all allegations of non-consensual sex, Weinstein is apparently due to be arrested on a criminal complaint and will likely be taken to Manhattan Criminal Court to be arraigned on the charges, the law enforcement officials say. As for why this important step in victim's quest for justice for Weinstein's historic abuse, officials in New York have apparently been gathering evidence with a view to arrest since November. The latest reports of progress come following a grand jury investigation into the numerous allegations made against Weinstein. However, despite his impending arrest in New York, investigations are still ongoing. The district attorney’s office is also understood to be looking into the financial crimes committed by Weinstein in relation to the money paid women to keep quiet.
Delays to proceedings that many had hoped would come much earlier also stem from the fact that many of the accusations against Weinstein occurred too long ago to be prosecuted under New York's statute of limitations - a difficult faced in many similar high profile sex crime cases.
The difference in Lucia Evan's case, however, is that alongside the other woman who's accusations Weinstein is expected to be charged, their claims involve 'forcible compulsion' (the use of threat or physical force). A time limit on these cases was lifted back in 2001.
Under these two particular charges, Weinstein is reported to have a bail package already negotiated in advance. Apparently, he will pay $1 million, had over his passport and agree to wear a monitoring device.