Yahoo News Harvey Weinstein May Face New Indictment As Additional Accusers Have Come Forward With Sexual Assault Claims, Prosecutor Says
Harvey Weinstein may face a new indictment on criminal sexual misconduct charges, Manhattan prosecutors told a judge today.
According to the Associated Press, Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg told a judge that they are evaluating additional claims of assault from additional accusers who have come forward. She said that a new indictment is possible, even as Weinstein faces a retrial later this year after his 2020 conviction was overturned.
More from Deadline
Julian Assange Extradition Hearing: Wikileaks Founder Wins Right To Appeal
Kevin Spacey To Stand Trial Again In UK Over Civil Sexual Assault Claim
Weinstein appeared at the hearing today, held in the same Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump is awaiting a jury’s verdict in his hush money case.
Weinstein was convicted in February 2020 on first-degree sexual assault and third-degree rape after allegations by two women, Mimi Haley and Jessica Mann. But a New York appeals court overturned Weinstein’s conviction last month, ruling that the introduction of prior bad acts testimony was prejudicial to the jury. Weinstein also was convicted of sexual assault in 2022 by a Los Angeles jury and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Weinstein’s attorney Arthur Aidala told reporters afterward that Weinstein is “in very good spirits in terms of his desire to challenge all of the evidence like a defendant does whenever they are on trial. He really looks forward to the trial proceeding sooner rather than later.”
He added, “He is confident that there will be no more complaining witnesses, that is the appropriate term…He knows he has never done anything like this. This is all part of a long-term plan to get money, and many people in this case got money.”
The judge, Curtis Farber, instructed the parties to “refrain from pandering to the press,” per the AP. The comment came after prosecutors sent a letter to the judge asking him to warn Weinstein’s legal team not to attack potential witnesses. They complained about comments that Aidala made about Haley.
Another court date was set for July 9.
Best of Deadline
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
