Former Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is set to make a court appearance in New York on Friday in preparation for a retrial on rape and sexual assault charges. The pretrial hearing in Manhattan criminal court will focus on issues related to evidence in the case, including text messages.
Prosecutors have indicated that they are expecting a retrial to take place in November. They have mentioned that they are actively pursuing new claims against Weinstein, although no findings have been presented to a grand jury yet. Weinstein's lawyer has argued that the ongoing investigation is merely a delay tactic.
In a significant development earlier this year, New York's highest court overturned Weinstein's 2020 conviction, citing that the original trial judge allowed testimony against him based on allegations that were not part of the case. The conviction, which had been seen as a milestone in the #MeToo movement, stemmed from accusations of sexual misconduct against the once influential studio executive behind films like 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Shakespeare in Love.'
Weinstein, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, was convicted of rape in the third degree for an incident involving an aspiring actress and of forcing himself on a TV and film production assistant in 2006. Prosecutors have stated that one of the accusers, Jessica Mann, is willing to testify against Weinstein again. The second accuser, Mimi Haley, is yet to decide whether she will participate in the retrial.
Currently incarcerated at Rikers Island, Weinstein's legal team has raised concerns about his health, citing conditions such as diabetes, macular degeneration, and fluid in his lungs and heart. They have expressed dissatisfaction with the medical care he is receiving in jail.
Additionally, Weinstein was convicted of another rape in Los Angeles in 2022 and is serving a 16-year prison sentence in California. His lawyers have filed an appeal in that case, arguing that he did not receive a fair trial.
