Harvey Weinstein has pleaded with a court to move his upcoming rape retrial forward, citing his ongoing battle with cancer. The disgraced Hollywood mogul, currently serving a 23-year prison sentence for sexual assault, made a rare direct plea to Judge Curtis J. Farber during a hearing on Wednesday.
“I’m asking and begging you to switch,” Weinstein told the judge. “I can’t hold on anymore. I’m holding on because I want justice for myself.”
Weinstein, who was diagnosed with leukemia in December, requested that his trial date, currently set for April 15, be brought forward due to his deteriorating health. He described his current conditions at Rikers Island as “medieval” and said that many prisoners are suffering without adequate representation or care.
“I am begging for you to move your date, so we can proceed with trial as quickly as possible, so I can get out of this hellhole,” Weinstein added.
In response, Judge Farber acknowledged the request and assured Weinstein that efforts were being made to accommodate his condition. However, as of now, April 15 remains the confirmed date for the trial.
Weinstein’s representative, Juda Engelmayer, expressed appreciation for the judge’s responsiveness, highlighting the former film producer’s ongoing medical struggles. “He is literally batting for his life,” Engelmayer said. “We remain confident in a swift and efficient trial process and firmly believe Harvey will be fully exonerated.”
Weinstein was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in December following an alarming blood test, with his team confirming the diagnosis of leukemia. His lawyers have repeatedly stated that Weinstein has been deprived of the necessary medical care, with Engelmayer calling the lack of treatment “cruel and unusual punishment.”
Weinstein’s legal team has also voiced concern about his health, with lawyer Arthur Aidala claiming that he is not receiving the medical attention he requires. Despite his medical challenges, Weinstein’s lawyers remain confident in the outcome of the trial, asserting that he will ultimately be acquitted.
In a significant legal development, a New York appeals court overturned Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction in April, ordering a new trial. The court ruled that the trial judge had allowed the prosecution to call women who had not been directly involved in the charges against Weinstein to testify, a decision that was deemed unfair.
Weinstein was originally convicted in February 2020 of forcing oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006 and committing third-degree rape against hairstylist Jessica Mann in 2013. He was acquitted of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault in relation to accusations from actress Annabella Sciorra. Weinstein has consistently denied engaging in any non-consensual sex.
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