New York Prosecutors have confirmed that Harvey Weinstein will stay in detention in New York while he awaits a retrial in Manhattan on allegations of rape and sexual assault. It coincides with the former film mogul’s quick court appearance over California’s request for his extradition.
However, following the resolution of the New York case, he will go back to California to carry out the remaining 16 years of his sentence for a different rape conviction there, according to a statement from Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
“Today, defendant Harvey Weinstein was formally arraigned on a governor’s warrant issued by Governor Kathy Hochul, who exercised her authority for him to remain in New York state until his case in New York county is adjudicated,” Ms Katz said.
“He will serve the California sentence first, as it is now his primary sentence.”
Weinstein was found guilty in Los Angeles in 2022 after serving a 23-year sentence in New York. Weinstein has denied ever raping or sexually assaulting anyone.
The state’s highest court overturned his 2020 conviction in Manhattan last April, ruling that the trial judge had unjustly permitted testimony against Weinstein based on unrelated charges. November is the tentative date of the Manhattan retrial.
In less than five minutes on Monday, the 72-year-old Weinstein appeared in Queens criminal court, his lawyers agreeing that he will stay at the neighboring Rikers Island jail complex, one hand chained to his wheelchair and the other holding a book and a magazine.
After being sent to the hospital last month for health issues such as COVID-19 and bilateral lung pneumonia, Weinstein has since returned there. Because Queens is closer to Rikers Island than Manhattan, the extradition case has been heard there rather than in Manhattan.
Although they haven’t provided any additional information or a timeframe for pursuing the possible new charges, Manhattan prosecutors stated last month that they want to file additional sexual assault allegations against Weinstein.
Arthur Aidala, the attorney for Weinstein, said at the time that the prosecution’s mention of fresh accusers created doubts about the viability of their current case.