Harvey Weinstein is set to appear in court in New York for a hearing in preparation for his retrial on sex crimes charges related to his #MeToo case. The hearing, scheduled for Wednesday, will address a request from prosecutors to consolidate the existing case with a new charge into a single trial.
The former movie mogul had his 2020 conviction overturned earlier this year and was facing retrial on two sex crime charges. In September, a new charge was added, accusing him of another assault. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The original charges included allegations of forcibly performing oral sex on a production assistant in 2006 and rape in the third degree for an incident involving an aspiring actor in 2013. The new charge accuses him of forcing oral sex on a different woman in a Manhattan hotel in 2006.
Prosecutors argue that consolidating the cases would be more efficient, citing overlap in criminal statutes, witnesses, expert testimony, and evidence. Weinstein's defense maintains that the cases should remain separate, expressing concerns about expanding the scope of the retrial.
There is uncertainty regarding the start date of Weinstein's retrial. While initially scheduled for November 12, both defense lawyers and prosecutors have raised concerns about the timeline, citing the need for more preparation time.
Weinstein has been in custody at Rikers Island jail complex, facing health issues. He was also convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022, with ongoing appeals.
The allegations against Weinstein in 2017 played a significant role in the #MeToo movement. The 72-year-old producer, known for co-founding Miramax and The Weinstein Company, has been involved in producing acclaimed films like 'Shakespeare in Love' and 'The Crying Game'.
