The convicted sex offender was transferred from New York’s Rikers Island prison to a clinic for heart surgery.
Former film mogul Harvey Weinstein has been moved from his notorious New York prison island due to an acute health emergency. The 72-year-old’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, confirmed that the convicted sex offender was taken from Rikers Island to a clinic for emergency surgery. It remains unclear how serious Weinstein’s condition is.
The once-powerful Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison in 2020 for sexual offenses in a historic trial – the numerous allegations of assaults against women had significantly propelled the MeToo movement. At the end of April, however, a New York appeals court surprisingly overturned the verdict due to procedural errors. The prosecution has announced plans to reinstate the trial, with a preliminary start date set for November 12.
Heart Procedure
According to his lawyers, Weinstein is suffering from severe health problems, including heart disease. Several U.S. media outlets reported on his hospitalization and that a urgent heart procedure would be performed.
Despite the overturned New York verdict, Weinstein remains in custody because he was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2023 in another criminal trial in Los Angeles, which also involved sexual crimes. His defense team is also contesting this verdict.
The first Weinstein trial was a milestone in legal history. Since 2017, more than 80 women have publicly accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct. The former producer has consistently denied any wrongdoing and claims that any sexual acts were consensual. (APA)