Kevin Spacey to Voluntarily Appear in UK Court Hearing For Sexual Assault Charges
Kevin Spacey has said he will “voluntarily appear” in UK courts over four counts of sexual assault charges and one charge of “causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.”
The actor provided a statement to Good Morning America on Tuesday (May 31) saying that he is “confident” he can prove his innocence. If Spacey doesn’t voluntarily appear in the UK, British authorities plan to seek the actor’s formal extradition from the US.
A spokesperson for Spacey provided the following statement to Good Morning America: “I very much appreciate the Crown Prosecution Service’s statement in which they carefully reminded the media and the public that I am entitled to a fair trial, and innocent until proven otherwise. While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the U.K. as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.”
The charges against Spacey relate to two alleged incidents in London in 2005, another two in 2008, and a further incident in Gloucestershire in 2013. The alleged victim of the 2005 incidents is now in his 40s, while the two men allegedly involved in the 2008 and 2013 incidents are now in their 30s. The decision to charge Spacey “follows a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police Service in its investigation,” CPS said.
There are reportedly more than 20 other accusers who have made similar allegations against Spacey, but he hasn’t been tried on criminal charges. Prosecutors in Massachusetts dropped a sexual assault case in 2019 when the alleged victim refused to testify. The charges are the latest in a series of legal battles both civil and criminal that Spacey has been fighting since allegations of his sexual assault and misconduct were first publicly exposed in 2017 by Rent actor Anthony Rapp. Rapp told Buzzfeed News that when he was 14 Spacey made a non-consensual sexual advance toward him at a party.
