Flinching when he heard himself described as a man who used power to prey on women, Harvey Weinstein was arraigned Friday on charges of rape and a criminal sex act in the first criminal prosecution to result from the wave of allegations against him that sparked a national reckoning over sexual misconduct.

Seven months after the allegations destroyed his career and catalyzed the #MeToo movement, the once-powerhouse movie producer turned himself in to face the charges, which stem from encounters with two of the dozens who have accused him of sexual misdeeds ranging from harassment to assault.

Weinstein has consistently denied any allegations of nonconsensual sex.

His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said Friday that he would fight to get the charges dismissed, saying they're factually unsupported and constitutionally flawed. And he began to take aim at the accusations and accusers, noting that the alleged attacks weren't reported to police when they happened and suggesting potential jurors wouldn't believe the women.

We get the latest. Plus, legal analysts look at what’s next for Weinstein.     

With files from the Associated Press.

Guests:

John Horn, host of KPCC’s daily arts and entertainment show, The Frame; he tweets

Laurie L. Levenson, former federal prosecutor and a professor of law at Loyola Law School

John Manly, an Irvine-based attorney who specializes in representing victims of sexual assault and abuse with the firm Manly, Stewart & Finaldi; he tweets

RJ Manuelian, Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney at the Manuelian Law Firm; he has been defending sex crimes for about 20 years; he tweets