Harvey Weinstein’s Rape Retrial Delayed Days After Cancer Diagnosis

Former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein’s retrial for rape and sexual assault was delayed until next year on Wednesday, days after news broke of his cancer diagnosis
Weinstein, 72, was convicted in the 2020 sexual assault of former production assistant Miriam Haley and the rape of aspiring actress Jessica Mann. He received a 23-year prison sentence.
Reports of Weinstein being diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a rare form of bone marrow cancer, emerged on Monday. He is reportedly undergoing treatment while in prison at Rikers Island in New York.
Weinstein appeared in court on Wednesday.
His conviction was overturned in April of this year by the New York Court of Appeals. The court said that three women who were not included in the charges should not have been allowed to speak about alleged assault during their trial testimony.
Weinstein was indicted on a new charge last month. He pleaded not guilty to criminal sex act in the first degree before Justice Curtis Farber in a New York City courtroom. He appeared in the courtroom in a wheelchair for the arraignment.
Weinstein’s retrial was scheduled to begin on November 12, but his legal team said they would need more time to develop their case due to the new charge. They requested that the trial be pushed back to March or April.
“We’re going to need some time to investigate the case, hire a private investigator and dig more into discovery,” Weinstein’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said.
Prosecutors did not object to the suggested dates, but said they are prepared to start as soon as January.
Judge Curtis Farber said he will decide on the new trial date by January 29. He also granted a request by prosecutors to consolidate the new charge with the original case.
Weinstein’s lawyers previously objected to the prosecution’s request in court filings. They said prosecutors are attempting to “expand the scope” of the retrial and transform it into “an entirely new proceeding” by adding an additional charge.
Newsweek reached out to Aidala for comment on Weinstein’s health.
Weinstein underwent emergency heart surgery at Bellevue Hospital last month. The procedure was meant to drain fluid from his lungs and heart. He was placed in the ICU after the surgery.
Weinstein was also hospitalized for COVID-19 and double pneumonia in July. Other medical problems he’s face in prison include diabetes and macular degeneration. He has used a walker or wheelchair at multiple court proceedings.
He was also convicted of rape in Los Angeles and sentenced to 16 years in prison, but his legal team is appealing the decision.
Weinstein was co-chair of film studio The Weinstein Company before the sexual assault allegations surfaced. He has denied having non-consensual encounters with anyone.
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