An ailing Harvey Weinstein was hospitalized for a number of tests in Manhattan following his return to Rikers Island after an appeals court decided to toss the former movie mogul’s 2020 rape conviction, his lawyer said Saturday.
The 72-year-old Weinstein was sent to the Bellevue Hospital prison ward for further evaluation after doctors examined him on Rikers Island, said his attorney Arthur Aidala.
“It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically. He’s got a lot of problems. He’s getting all kinds of tests. He’s somewhat of a train wreck health-wise,” Aidala told the Associated Press.
Weinstein has been dealing with several ailments, including cardiac issues, diabetes, sleep apnea, and eye problems.
A spokesman for the city Department of Correction only confirmed that Weinstein remained in custody at Bellevue Hospital on Saturday afternoon.
State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision spokesman Thomas Mailey said Weinstein was transferred to the city’s custody Friday. He was previously being held at the Mohawk Correctional Facility in Rome, N.Y.
In the shocking decision Thursday morning, the New York State Court of Appeals in a 4-3 ruling, reversed the Manhattan Supreme Court jury’s 2020 verdict, that Weinstein was guilty of rape for an attack on aspiring actress Jessica Mann at the DoubleTree hotel in 2013, and criminal sex act for assaulting film assistant Miriam Haleyi at his SoHo loft in 2006.
The court said trial court judge, James Burke should not have allowed testimony of “uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes,” and then further blundered by ruling Weinstein could be cross-examined on those allegations and others.
Emily Tuttle, a spokeswoman for Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg previously said their office, “will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.”
The disgraced movie tycoon was also found guilty of rape and sexual assault by a Los Angeles court in 2022 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. That verdict still stands.
With Molly Crane-Newman and News Wire Services
