Manhattan prosecutors on Wednesday signaled that they may search to indict Harvey Weinstein on new prices, saying they have been vetting allegations from individuals who have accused him of sexual assault in recent times as they ready to retry him after his 2020 intercourse crimes conviction was overturned.
Prosecutors didn’t say what number of accusers they have been interviewing or present particulars of their allegations however mentioned they have been reviewing which of the accusations fell throughout the statute of limitations.
On the listening to on Wednesday in Prison Courtroom in Manhattan, Mr. Weinstein, 72, entered in a wheelchair, wearing a darkish swimsuit and white shirt, holding a big tan ebook underneath his left arm.
It was the second listening to since Mr. Weinstein’s conviction was overturned final month. In a 4-to-3 determination, the New York Courtroom of Appeals agreed with Mr. Weinstein’s attorneys that the trial decide who presided over his 2020 case had erred by permitting prosecutors to name a number of accusers as witnesses, although their allegations had not led to prices.
Mr. Weinstein, a former Hollywood producer who was convicted of intercourse crimes towards two girls at that trial, had been serving a 23-year sentence. At a listening to earlier this month, Manhattan prosecutors mentioned they deliberate to retry him.
On Wednesday, Justice Curtis Farber, who’s presiding over the case now, mentioned if prosecutors convene a grand jury to hunt an indictment on new prices, the courtroom and Mr. Weinstein’s authorized group should be given discover.
Mr. Weinstein’s lawyer in New York, Arthur Aidala, was sitting subsequent to him on the protection desk on Wednesday. Final week, in a letter filed in Manhattan Supreme Courtroom, prosecutors accused Mr. Aidala of creating public statements that have been supposed to intimidate and to assault the “credibility and character” of witnesses.
Mr. Aidala has publicly accused one of many 2020 case’s witnesses, Miriam Haley, of mendacity to the jury at trial and mentioned that he would diligently put together to cross-examine her at a brand new trial if she “dares to come back and present her face right here,” in accordance with the letter.
In courtroom on Wednesday, Nicole Blumberg, an assistant district lawyer, mentioned that prosecutors are involved that Mr. Aidala’s statements may intimidate accusers — a few of whom weren’t prepared to come back ahead in 2020, however could also be prepared now.
Mr. Aidala mentioned he apologized if “I offended the courtroom in any means.” Nevertheless, he defended his public statements, saying that he was standing up for his consumer who he mentioned had been “beat” up within the media.
“I made some statements a few witness that testified within the final case which are correct,” he informed Justice Farber, including: “It’s our place that lies have been informed within the final trial. I didn’t say something to intimidate anyone. I simply say, ‘Look, right here’s the reality.’”
Ms. Haley, a former TV manufacturing assistant, mentioned at a information convention shortly after Mr. Weinstein’s conviction was overturned that she would take into account testifying once more.
“I positively don’t really wish to undergo that once more, however for the sake of preserving going and doing the precise factor and since it’s what occurred, I’d take into account it,” she mentioned.
In 2020, Mr. Weinstein was convicted of a felony sexual act stemming from Ms. Haley’s accusation that he compelled oral intercourse on her in his Manhattan condominium in July 2006.
He was additionally convicted of raping Jessica Mann, an aspiring actress, in a New York resort room in 2013.
Mr. Aidala has mentioned that his group would object to any plans from prosecutors to name Ms. Mann at a retrial as a result of they imagine Mr. Weinstein has already served sufficient time to account for the sentence in her case.
Earlier than setting the subsequent listening to date, Justice Farber requested that each side chorus from “pandering to the press” within the lead as much as the brand new trial.
The case is not going to be tried within the “courtroom of public opinion,” he mentioned.
However not lengthy after the listening to, Mr. Aidala spoke to reporters exterior the courthouse.
“It’s the courtroom of appeals who introduced sanity again into the equation,” he mentioned.
Mr. Weinstein remains to be dealing with jail time in California, the place he was convicted in 2020 of rape and sexual assault and sentenced to 16 years to be served after his New York sentence. Mr. Weinstein’s lawyer in California, Jennifer Bonjean, has mentioned that she plans to attraction Mr. Weinstein’s conviction, and that she believes that the latest ruling in New York will assist her probabilities of success, although a number of authorized consultants have forged doubt on that.
The following listening to within the New York case is scheduled for July 9.
Nate Schweber and Anusha Bayya contributed reporting.
