Harvey Weinstein's Lawyer Fears Disgraced Mogul Will Die Under Current Jail Conditions, Lack of Treatment

Harvey Weinstein's lawyer says that the disgraced mogul is being "completely mistreated" while incarcerated at Riker’s Island jail, and fears his client may die if his conditions and treatments don't improve.

Although the former Hollywood producer's 2020 convictions in New York State for rape and sexual assault were overturned in April 2024, he remains in jail because of his 2022 convictions for sex crimes charges in California.

Nearly two months after reports emerged stating that Weinstein was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia and is receiving treatment in prison, his attorney, Imran H. Ansari, recalled a visit to Riker's to The Hollywood Reporter, where he said his client is being "completely mistreated."

Related: Where Is Harvey Weinstein Now? What to Know About Disgraced Producer's Life After His Rape Conviction

"He had blood spattered on him. I was shocked to see that any prisoner would be treated that way. He was totally unkempt. The clothes seemed like they were not clean or washed," Ansari alleged.

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"And he told me he hadn’t been provided clean underwear in two weeks. It seemed like he was being completely mistreated," he continued while speaking to the outlet, referring to the prison as a "torture chamber or medieval dungeon."

His comments come after Weinstein, 72, was taken to the emergency room after an "alarming blood test result" required hospitalization earlier this week.

"It is expected that he will remain there until his condition stabilizes. His deprivation of care is not only medical malpractice, but a violation of his constitutional right," Ansari shared in a statement to PEOPLE.

“You don’t need to be a doctor to say this, but if you’re not going to get the medical treatment for terminal illnesses like cancer, like leukemia, and it goes unchecked and it’s not treated properly, the inevitable outcome from that is death,” Ansari told THR.

Related: No New Indictment Announced Against Harvey Weinstein During Court Appearance, but Still a Possibility: Prosecutor

In a follow-up statement to PEOPLE on Friday, Dec. 6, Ansari says that he and Weinstein's legal team hope that Weinstein "who has been suffering from a lack of adequate medical care and enduring deplorable and inhumane conditions on Rikers Island, while suffering from a laundry list of medical issues, is finally provided the medical attention he deserves as a human being."

"Under our law, and constitution, it should not matter whether an individual is a prisoner or not - basic medical care, humane and civilized treatment is not only expected, it’s mandated," he said. PEOPLE reached out to the New York City Department of Correction for comment but did not immediately hear back.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

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