Harvey Weinstein is set to face a retrial “sometime after Labor Day,” according to a judge’s announcement on Wednesday, marking his first appearance in a Manhattan courtroom since his rape conviction was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals.
Weinstein, brought in by court officers in a wheelchair, appeared before Judge Curtis Farber wearing a dark suit and tie.
During the 20-minute hearing, he remained silent.
Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg emphasized the strength of the case, stating, “It was a strong case in 2020 when the defendant was convicted and remains a strong case in 2024.”
Weinstein had previously been serving a 23-year prison sentence following his 2020 conviction for sexually assaulting Miriam Haley and raping Jessica Mann in 2013.
Mann attended the court session on Wednesday, seated near Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, with Blumberg expressing Mann’s determination not to waver in her pursuit of truth.
Defense attorney Arthur Aidala reiterated Weinstein’s assertion of innocence and questioned the prosecution’s case strength, noting that Weinstein had been acquitted of the most serious charges.
The initial trial and subsequent conviction stemmed from allegations that arose after a 2017 New York Times article exposed Weinstein’s history of sexual misconduct and led to the #MeToo movement.
Weinstein was arrested in May 2018 on charges of sexually assaulting two women, with prosecutors contending that he leveraged his influence in the film industry to exploit aspiring actresses for sexual favors.
In February 2020, Weinstein was convicted of criminal sexual assault and third-degree rape but acquitted of the most severe charges.
The recent overturning of Weinstein’s conviction by the New York Court of Appeals was attributed to the trial judge’s allowance of testimony regarding uncharged sexual assaults, which the court deemed unnecessary and prejudicial.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office expressed intent to retry Weinstein pending the willingness of witnesses to participate.
Weinstein, currently in custody and undergoing medical treatment, is not seeking bail.
Despite his conviction in Los Angeles in 2022, Weinstein’s legal team is appealing that case.
