A grand jury in the US has indicted the actress and activist Rose McGowan for alleged possession of a controlled substance according to court documents, with McGowan's lawyer saying she "steadfastly maintains her innocence".
Last November, McGowan was released on a $5,000 bond in Loudoun County, Virginia after surrendering to police on foot of a warrant for alleged felony possession of cocaine. She pleaded not guilty to the charge. A trial date has been set for January 15, 2019.
The arrest warrant arose from a police investigation of personal belongings McGowan left on a flight arriving into Washington Dulles International Airport from Los Angeles in January 2017. McGowan has claimed the drugs were planted.
McGowan's attorney, Jose Baez, told People magazine: "Rose steadfastly maintains her innocence.
"These charges would have never been brought if it weren't for her activism as a voice for women everywhere. I assure you, this selective prosecution will be met with a strong defence."
McGowan is one of the leading campaigners against sexual harassment in Hollywood and has alleged that film producer Harvey Weinstein raped her. Weinstein has "unequivocally denied" "any allegations of non-consensual sex".
