Harvey Weinstein is set to appear in court as a judge decides on the start date and scope of his #MeToo retrial. The 72-year-old movie mogul is seeking to have an additional charge dismissed, arguing that it was brought solely to strengthen the case against him after his 2020 conviction was overturned by New York's highest court.
The judge, Curtis Farber, will also determine the trial date, which has been complicated by a busy court calendar. Weinstein's lawyer is concurrently involved in another high-profile trial, further complicating scheduling.
Weinstein, who is battling various medical conditions, including cancer and diabetes, is facing charges related to alleged sexual assaults on multiple women. The additional charge, filed in September, involves an incident from 2006.
The Manhattan district attorney's office has defended the timing of the additional charge, stating that it required a thorough investigation due to the lack of physical evidence or eyewitnesses.
Weinstein, a former Hollywood power player, was a central figure in the #MeToo movement, which exposed widespread sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry. He has consistently maintained that any sexual encounters were consensual.
Weinstein's conviction in Los Angeles in 2022 for another rape still stands, with his lawyers appealing the verdict. He remains in custody at Rikers Island jail complex in New York, awaiting his retrial.
The retrial will address allegations of sexual assault against Weinstein, with the court aiming to ensure a fair and just legal process for all parties involved.
