NEW YORK: Film producer Harvey Weinstein surrendered to New York City police on Friday on charges of rape and sex abuse, months after he was toppled from Hollywood’s most powerful ranks by scores of women accusing him of misconduct.

Over 70 women have accused the co-founder of the Miramax film studio and Weinstein Co of sexual misconduct, including rape, with some allegations dating back decades.

The accusations, first reported by the New York Times and the New Yorker last year, gave rise to the #MeToo movement in which hundreds of women have publicly accused powerful men in business, government and entertainment of misconduct.

Weinstein is charged with rape, sexual misconduct, sex abuse and the committing of a criminal sex act against two women, the New York Police Dep­artment said in a statement, which did not identify the women. Weinstein, 66, has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone.

Weinstein gave a weak smile as he arrived at the station house at about 7:25am wearing a dark jacket over a blue sweater and white open-collared shirt and dark jeans.

Weinstein’s spokesman Juda Engelmayer and his lawyer Benjamin Brafman both declined to comment on Thursday on the imminent charges.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2018