Harvey Weinstein is due to make an appearance in a New York court prior to his upcoming retrial on charges of rape and sexual assault. The former Hollywood producer is attending a pretrial status hearing at Manhattan criminal court on Tuesday. The retrial is tentatively scheduled for after Labor Day.
Weinstein’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, and representatives for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg have chosen not to provide any comments regarding the agenda of the hearing. During the previous hearing in May, prosecutors informed Judge Curtis Farber that they are investigating additional claims of sexual misconduct against Weinstein, which could potentially lead to a new indictment.
Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg revealed that more individuals have come forward with assault allegations, and prosecutors are determining which cases fall within the statute of limitations. Some potential survivors who were not ready to come forward during Weinstein’s initial New York trial may now be prepared to testify.
Weinstein, 72, has consistently asserted that any sexual encounters were consensual. He is currently held at Rikers Island jail complex but has faced health issues during his time in custody. In April, New York’s highest court overturned Weinstein’s rape conviction, citing unfair testimony against him not related to the case.
The decision reopened discussions surrounding America’s struggle with sexual misconduct among influential individuals, which gained traction with the #MeToo movement that started in 2017. Weinstein, who was serving a 23-year sentence in New York, was also found guilty in Los Angeles in 2022 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. However, Weinstein’s attorneys recently filed an appeal in California, arguing that he did not receive a fair trial in Los Angeles.
