Harvey Weinstein returns to court in New York

Former Hollywood producer King Harvey Weinstein returned to the New York court on Wednesday, where he faced one of his accusers and prosecutors determined to obtain a new guilty verdict after the resounding annulment of his rape conviction and sexual assault.

The all-powerful former producer of American cinema, 72, appeared diminished, pushed in a wheelchair in a courtroom of the Manhattan court, where he smiled and greeted his few supporters.

Still incarcerated, because he also received 16 years in prison in Los Angeles in 2023 for rape and sexual assault, this is the first time he has returned to justice since the annulment last week by a court appeal, from his sentence to 23 years in prison in New York in 2020.

This turnaround was experienced as an affront and as a step backwards for the #MeToo movement against sexist violence against women, because the revelations in 2017 on the sexual assaults of Harvey Weinstein had triggered a planetary shock wave and released the words of many victims.

In the courtroom sat Jessica Mann, one of the two accusers for whom Harvey Weinstein was convicted in the first trial.

We believe in this issue, which is why Jessica Mann is here todayimmediately launched Manhattan prosecutor Nicole Blumberg.

We have every reason to believe that the accused will be convicted again during a second trial, added the representative of the prosecution.

Outside the courtroom, Gloria Allred, lawyer for the other accuser, Mimi Haley, said her client had no not yet made a decision on whether to testify at a retrial.

The annulment of the conviction was a new trauma for her… She is still thinking about itshe added.

Weinstein doesn’t belong in prison, says his lawyer

During the hearing, Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, recalled that at the time, his client had been acquitted of the heaviest chargesin particular the aggravating circumstance of behavior predator.

He requested the release of his client, refused by the judge, Curtis Farber, who postponed the case for several months, after Labor Day, September 4, and without setting a specific date. In the meantime, a new procedural hearing has been set for May 29.

In front of journalists, the lawyer assured that his client’s place was not in prison.

He used to drink champagne and eat caviar, now he buys chips at the commissary [de la prison].

The former producer was sentenced to 23 years in prison for the sexual assault of former production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006 and the rape of aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013.

Problematic testimonies

During this highly publicized trial, both a symbol and a test for the #MeToo movement, several other women who accused Harvey Weinstein of similar acts but could not be subject to criminal prosecution had testified.

However, according to the New York Court of Appeal, testimonies from other alleged victims had been admitted wrongly and had paints a highly damaging image of the accused. According to the court, the solution to these shocking errors is a new trial.

The court of appeal was divided on this question with four judges ruling in favor of the annulment and three against after a lively debate.

Court continues to thwart consistent victories sexual violence survivors have fought for, said she regretted Madeline Singas, one of the judges who ruled against the annulment. According to her, women who carry the trauma of sexual violence have been forgotten.

More than 80 women have accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment, sexual assault or rape, including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Judd.