Former Hollywood movie mogul, Harvey Weinstein, had a tentative retrial date set for Nov. 12 on rape and sexual assault charges. The hearing addressed issues related to evidence, specifically information from phones to be reviewed by a former judge for relevance. Prosecutors are actively pursuing new claims against Weinstein, who denies all wrongdoing. His lawyers expressed a preference for an earlier trial date, indicating Weinstein’s eagerness to prove his innocence.
Weinstein, 72, is currently jailed on Rikers Island and his attorney has raised concerns about his medical care. The defense pushed for Weinstein to be moved back to Manhattan’s Bellevue Hospital for proper medical attention to ensure he is in good physical and mental state for trial. Weinstein was previously treated at Bellevue after the state’s highest court threw out his 2020 conviction. He remains jailed due to a 16-year sentence in a California rape case.
Weinstein’s New York conviction was seen as a landmark in the #MeToo movement and he had been convicted of rape in the third degree and forced assault on a TV and film production assistant. Prosecutors have confirmed one accuser, Jessica Mann, is prepared to testify again while the other accuser, Mimi Haley, is still deciding. The retrial is a significant moment in the ongoing legal battles facing Weinstein.
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