New York, NY – Harvey Weinstein, the once-powerful Hollywood producer, has been slapped with new criminal charges in New York, a prosecutor revealed on Thursday. This development comes as the Manhattan District Attorney’s office gears up to retry Weinstein following the overturning of his previous rape conviction.
Reversal of 2020 conviction
In 2020, Weinstein, 72, was found guilty of rape by a Manhattan jury. However, in April, the New York Court of Appeals reversed the conviction, citing that the trial judge had improperly allowed testimony from accusers; Weinstein was not formally charged with assaulting, thus denying him a fair trial.
Ongoing investigations and new charges
Manhattan prosecutors announced in July that they were investigating additional violent sexual assaults allegedly committed by Weinstein, after more women came forward willing to testify against the Miramax studio co-founder. Weinstein has consistently denied any non-consensual sexual encounters.
During a court hearing before Judge Curtis Farber, prosecutor Nicole Blumberg did not specify the new charges Weinstein faces. Farber has tentatively set a trial date for November 12 but is open to an earlier start.
Defense’s standpoint
Weinstein’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, argued that it was unfair for prosecutors to introduce additional victims after the conviction was overturned. “Once again we have a hotline: ‘1-800 Get Harvey,'” Aidala remarked in court on July 9.
Weinstein’s health and custody status
Weinstein’s health has significantly deteriorated in recent years, confining him to a wheelchair due to back problems. Despite the reversal of his New York conviction, he remains in custody at the Rikers Island jail complex due to a separate rape conviction in California. In July, he was moved to the prison ward of a New York hospital with multiple ailments, including COVID-19.
#MeToo movement and initial convictions
Weinstein’s initial conviction in New York was a landmark for the #MeToo movement, which saw women accusing numerous powerful men across various industries of sexual misconduct. The jury found Weinstein guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006 and raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013. These women are among more than 80 who have accused him of sexual misconduct.
He was sentenced to 23 years in prison for the New York case and an additional 16 years for the separate California case. In the California trial, a Los Angeles jury found Weinstein guilty of rape, forcible oral copulation, and sexual penetration by a foreign object involving one woman, while acquitting him of charges related to a second accuser. The judge declared a mistrial on counts where the jury could not reach a verdict, including allegations made by Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The California conviction remains unaffected by the New York court’s decision, and Weinstein has not yet begun serving the California sentence.
Miramax, co-founded by Weinstein, produced hit movies such as “Shakespeare in Love” and “Pulp Fiction.” The studio filed for bankruptcy in March 2018 following the wave of allegations against Weinstein, leading to its collapse.
During his 2020 sentencing hearing in Manhattan, Weinstein expressed concern about the broader implications of the #MeToo movement. He stated he was worried about the “thousands of men who are losing due process.”
As Weinstein faces new charges, the saga of his legal battles continues, casting a long shadow over Hollywood and the broader conversation about sexual misconduct and justice.