Rose McGowan Waives Court Appearance On Virginia Drug Charges

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Actress Rose McGowan waived her appearance in a Loudon County court on a felony charge of cocaine possession Thursday, the Associated Press reports. She surrendered to authorities on Tuesday on charges of felony drug possession and was quickly released; the warrant was issued nearly nine months after she flew through Dulles International Airport, but was just made public late last month. The 44-year-old, who has been at the forefront of the national discussion on sexual misconduct after accusing Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of rape, denounced the warrant.

McGowan had been expected to appear in a courtroom for her arraignment Thursday, but a judge agreed to waive her appearance at her lawyer's request. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 23, when McGowan is expected to enter a plea. She condemned the arrest as retaliation for her outspoken stance on sexual misconduct.

"Are they trying to silence me?" she tweeted Oct. 30. "There is a warrant out for my arrest in Virginia. What a load of HORSES**T."

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said in a statement the warrant stems from McGowan allegedly leaving personal belongings that tested positive for narcotics on a United flight last Jan. 20 at Dulles International Airport. "Since obtaining the warrant...Airports Authority police have attempted to contact Ms. McGowan so she can appear in a Loudoun County, Virginia, court to respond to the charge. The (warrant) was also entered into a national law enforcement database."

According to People magazine, McGowan turned herself in Tuesday, was arrested and booked before being released on a $5,000 bond in Virginia by the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office.

The investigation began in January after authorities reportedly found traces of cocaine in personal items McGowan left behind on a United flight arriving at Dulles Airport Jan. 20, the AP reported.

After having her Twitter account temporarily suspended in October by the social-media service following a string of posts alleging cover-ups of Weinstein's treatment of women, McGowan said the movie producer raped her. Weinstein, who was fired from The Weinstein Company production house over allegations of sexual harassment and assault dating back decades, has denied sexually assaulting anyone.

"Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein," according to a statement released earlier by his publicist. "Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances."

McGowan was identified in a New York Times article as receiving a financial settlement from Weinstein over an encounter with the producer at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997. She made a series of Twitter posts directed at Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos, saying, "I told the head of your studio that HW raped me."

"Over & over I said it," McGowan wrote. "He said it hadn't been proven. I said I was the proof. I had already sold a script I wrote to your studio. It was in development. When I heard a Weinstein bailout was in the works I forcefully begged studio head to do the right thing. I was ignored. Deal was done. Amazon won a dirty Oscar. I called my attorney & said I want to get my script back, but before I could ... (Amazon) called to say my show was dead. ... I love (Amazon) but there is rot in Hollywood."

In her first public comments since accusing Weinstein of rape, McGowan said she had been "silenced for 20 years" but won't remain quiet about sexual assault and harassment. McGowan, delivering opening remarks at The Women's Convention in Detroit, thanked the audience "for giving me wings during this very difficult time."

"The triggering has been insane — the monster's face everywhere, my nightmare," she said. "I have been silenced for 20 years. I have been slut-shamed, I have been harassed, I have been maligned, and you know what? I am just like you. What happened to me behind the scenes happens to all of us in this society. It cannot stand and will not stand."

McGowan has been one of the leading voices against sexual harassment in Hollywood, and tweeted that she was raped by a man with the initials "HW." The Hollywood Reporter said McGowan confirmed she was referring to Weinstein.

One of her best-known roles was playing Paige Matthews on the WB channel's "Charmed" from 2001-06.

Watch Now: Rose McGowan Arrested On Virginia Drug Charges

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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