Harvey Weinstein Prepares for Retrial Amid Calls for Fair Hearing
As the embattled Hollywood mogul gets ready for a retrial on rape and sexual assault charges, Harvey Weinstein’s legal team called for a “fresh eye” on the case.
Weinstein, 72, appeared frail during a Manhattan court hearing on Wednesday, ahead of his retrial set for April 15. His 2020 conviction was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals, leading to new proceedings.
A lawyer for Weinstein, who is in poor health and underwent emergency heart surgery last year, argued for a fresh perspective on the case. However, Judge Curtis Farber assured, “Everything is being done anew.”
Weinstein remains in prison, serving a separate 16-year sentence for a California rape conviction. His original New York conviction sentenced him to 23 years for sexually assaulting two women, but it was overturned due to procedural errors.
Weinstein’s case was central to the #MeToo movement, with over 80 women, including Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow, accusing him of misconduct.
His lawyers maintain his innocence, with attorney Arthur Aidala stating, “What happened was consensual, and therefore, there is no victim.”
Weinstein co-founded Miramax Films with his brother Bob, producing hits like Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love, the latter earning him an Oscar.
