Harvey Weinstein faces a new rape and sexual assault trial in New York, nearly a year after his 2020 conviction was overturned, marking a key test of progress in the post-#MeToo era.
Harvey Weinstein’s retrial on charges of rape and sexual assault began on Wednesday in Manhattan, nearly a year after New York’s highest court overturned his 2020 conviction. The 73-year-old, who arrived in a wheelchair wearing a dark suit and navy tie, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act and one count of third-degree rape.
Weinstein’s previous conviction was widely seen as a landmark moment for the #MeToo movement, as over 100 women—including well-known actresses—had come forward with allegations of misconduct. The former Hollywood producer and Miramax studio co-founder has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.
The new trial, overseen by state Supreme Court Justice Curtis Farber, is expected to last around six weeks. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg attended the opening day of the proceedings.
“We're hoping that Mr. Weinstein is going to get a fair trial this time,” said his attorney Imran Ansari. “He wants to clear his name.”
In 2020, a separate jury found Weinstein guilty of raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and of sexually assaulting former production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, the New York Court of Appeals ruled in April 2024 that the trial judge had erred by allowing testimony from additional women whose claims were not part of the formal charges, prompting the retrial.
The prosecution has now added a new charge, accusing Weinstein of assaulting an unidentified woman in Manhattan in 2006, in addition to the charges involving Haley and Mann.
Even if acquitted in New York, Weinstein is expected to remain imprisoned, having been sentenced to 16 years for sex crimes in California.
Weinstein's lawyers are petitioning the court to allow him to stay at Manhattan’s Bellevue Hospital throughout the trial, citing inadequate medical care at Rikers Island jail and his recent emergency heart surgery.
Lindsay Goldbrum, representing the new accuser, said the case is a critical moment in the broader fight against sexual violence. “More than seven years after #MeToo, this case will test how far we’ve advanced in our collective understanding of sexual assault, power dynamics, and what it means to be a survivor,” she stated.
Weinstein’s downfall has also left lasting effects on his former film empire. His production studio filed for bankruptcy in March 2018, months after the allegations became public.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance took part in a Good Friday service at St. Peter’s Basilica, arriving with his wife and three young children just days after the death of Pope Francis, who passed away earlier this week at age 88.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged on Wednesday that talks in London were marked by emotion—but stressed the momentum for peace remains.
For three generations, the Liebigs built railcars in Görlitz. Now, the factory that shaped their lives will produce parts for battle tanks.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on world leaders to urgently step up climate efforts ahead of COP30, stressing that the planet faces deepening threats from worsening environmental disasters.
Brussels has fined Apple and Meta over €700 million combined, launching its first crackdown under the Digital Markets Act aimed at curbing big tech’s power and boosting competition in the digital economy.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Pope Francis's relationship with Azerbaijan has evolved significantly over the years, characterized by diplomatic exchanges, promotion of religious tolerance, and peace advocacy in the Caucasus region.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope and a transformative figure in the Roman Catholic Church, has passed away at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed in a video statement on Monday.
A fresh Star Wars adventure is on the way, as Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling officially introduce Star Wars: Starfighter, set to hit cinemas in May 2027.
In a country where hockey is sacred, Canadian politics has skated out of the way.
Mount Paektu, an active stratovolcano straddling the border of North Korea and China, has been officially designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark. This recognition, which marks North Korea’s first natural site on the prestigious list,highlights the mountain’s significant natural and cultural heritage.
Pope Francis has approved the first step towards sainthood for Antoni Gaudi, the modernist architect behind Barcelona's "Sagrada Familia" basilica, the Vatican said on Monday.
An all-female crew, including pop icon Katy Perry and other trailblazing women, safely returned to Earth after a historic Blue Origin spaceflight—the first all-female mission to reach space since 1963.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance took part in a Good Friday service at St. Peter’s Basilica, arriving with his wife and three young children just days after the death of Pope Francis, who passed away earlier this week at age 88.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged on Wednesday that talks in London were marked by emotion—but stressed the momentum for peace remains.
For three generations, the Liebigs built railcars in Görlitz. Now, the factory that shaped their lives will produce parts for battle tanks.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on world leaders to urgently step up climate efforts ahead of COP30, stressing that the planet faces deepening threats from worsening environmental disasters.
Brussels has fined Apple and Meta over €700 million combined, launching its first crackdown under the Digital Markets Act aimed at curbing big tech’s power and boosting competition in the digital economy.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment