Yahoo News Prosecutors May Bring New Indictment Against Harvey Weinstein as More Women May Come Forward
Prosecutors in the Harvey Weinstein case say they may issue a new indictment against the former mogul, as there may be more women who come out against him.
“Some people who were not ready to speak out in 2020 now appear ready to do so in 2024,” Assistant D.A. Nicole Blumberg said in New York criminal court Wednesday. A July 9 hearing was set for purposes of discovery and compliance.
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Blumberg disclosed this as she mentioned a letter filed with Judge Curtis Farber asking the judge to direct Weinstein’s defense counsel to refrain from making public statements about witnesses, for fear of scaring off the additional women who may now bring claims. The attorney, Arthur Aidala, had held a press conference outside of the courtroom May 1, after the first hearing in the case, in which he called into question statements made by Miriam Haley, who brought claims against Weinstein in the first trial.
Weinstein was in attendance Wednesday and was brought into the room in a wheelchair, wearing a blue suit, with a large book on his lap.
Aidala said he felt it was his duty to speak up for Weinstein in the press conference, but was aware of his ethical obligations. “I will make sure that I don’t get so close to that line again,” he said. In court, Aidala also repeatedly objected to the use of the word “survivor” by the prosecutors, as they mentioned the new claimants.
After hearing both parties, Farber directed both sides not to pander to the press.
The New York State Court of Appeals overturned Weinstein’s rape conviction from 2020. The court ruled the judge in the New York County trial prejudiced Weinstein with improper rulings and allowed women to testify about allegations that were not part of the case.
Following that decision, the Manhattan DA’s office said it would pursue a new trial, with Blumberg reiterating in a May 1 court hearing that prosecutors wanted to retry the case “as quickly as possible” and that it “remains a strong case.”
In a press conference the day the conviction was overturned, Aidala said Weinstein continues to maintain his innocence and suggested he would take the stand in the new trial.
During the May 1 hearing, his attorney, Arthur Aidala said Weinstein continued to suffer from “very, very serious medical issues” physically, but remained mentally sharp.
During the trial in February 2020, Weinstein was found guilty of criminal sexual assault in the first degree, based on the testimony of Haley, a former Project Runway production assistant, and rape in the third degree, based on the testimony of aspiring actress Jessica Mann. He was acquitted on three other charges, and was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Mann attended the first hearing, which prosecutors pointed to, saying, “She’s not backing down and is committed to seeing that justice is served yet again.” Haley’s attorney Gloria Allred was also in attendance.
Weinstein was also convicted by a Los Angeles jury in 2022 on three counts against Jane Doe No. 1, who has since come forward as former Russian model Evgeniya Chernyshova. That 16-year prison sentence still stands, however his attorneys there have indicated they would try to appeal it, in light of the New York case being overturned. They received an extension until June 3 to file their appeal.
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