Harvey Weinstein’s attorneys have opposed a move by prosecutors to combine two sexual crimes cases against the disgraced film mogul in Manhattan. Prosecutors wanted to consolidate new charges with ones previously brought against Weinstein so that they could be tried together in court. However, Weinstein’s lawyers accused the district attorney’s office of acting improperly and unfairly in a response to the motion to consolidate cases. They argued that the prosecutors were seeking to unfairly bolster the credibility of the complainant in the 2024 indictment.
In early 2020, Weinstein was convicted of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sex act against two women. However, in April, his 23-year prison sentence was overturned by New York’s state Court of Appeals due to the trial judge allowing women to testify about allegations that were not part of the charges. Last month, Weinstein was indicted on one count of sexual act in the first degree, stemming from an alleged sexual assault in 2006. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicated that they would seek to link the two cases together ahead of Weinstein’s retrial. In total, more than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual assault or harassment, sparking the #MeToo movement.
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty in both cases, maintaining that the encounters were consensual. Diana Fabi Samson, one of Weinstein’s lawyers, argued that prosecutors should not retaliate against Weinstein, who successfully appealed his case, by charging him with a new crime based on an allegation long known to the district attorney’s office. Samson claimed that the new accuser had changed her story about her interactions with Weinstein in various instances over the years. The trial was initially scheduled for September but was later pushed to November, with prosecutors now seeking to move it to January due to not being ready in time.
Weinstein remains in custody at Rikers Island jail in New York City while awaiting trial. The legal battle surrounding the consolidation of the two cases continues, with Weinstein’s defense team alleging improper conduct by the prosecutors in seeking to consolidate the charges. The case has drawn attention as it involves a high-profile figure at the center of the #MeToo movement and highlights the complexities of bringing cases involving alleged sexual crimes to trial. Despite the setbacks in previous proceedings, Weinstein’s lawyers are pushing back against the efforts to combine the cases and are seeking a fair trial for their client. The outcome of this legal battle will have significant implications for Weinstein’s future and the broader conversation around sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry.
