Manhattan prosecutors announced on Tuesday that they plan to bring new sexual assault charges against Harvey Weinstein in anticipation of his November retrial.
Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg said that some potential survivors that were not willing to testify during Weinstein’s first New York trial have indicated they are now willing to come forward.
The big picture: The prosecutors plan to actively pursue claims of rape that occurred in Manhattan within the statute of limitations and are proceeding with the investigation in a trauma-informed manner.
- Weinstein’s lawyer Arthur Aidala suggested that the investigation is merely a delay tactic from the prosecution and that they are trying to find someone else to come forward because they feel that their current case is not strong enough.
- Blumberg rejected the notion that the prosecution’s plan is to proceed to trial in the fall, and November would be a realistic timeframe.
Driving the news: Weinstein, who is currently serving a 23-year sentence in New York and a 16-year sentence in California, maintains that any sexual activity was consensual.
- Weinstein’s next pre-trial hearing is set for July 19.
- Some of Weinstein’s accusers, such as Jessica Mann, who was raped by Weinstein in 2020, have expressed their willingness to testify against him again, while others like Mimi Haley are reluctant to go through the trauma of testifying again.
- Weinstein’s lawyers argue that he is not receiving adequate medical care and is essentially in solitary confinement while he is incarcerated.
