Harvey Weinstein’s new trial in New York is tentatively set for November

NEW YORK — A judge tentatively scheduled Friday’s Harvey Weinstein ceremony new trial planned on rape and sexual assault charges will begin on November 12th.

Weinstein wore an American flag pin on his jacket during a brief court appearance in Manhattan, which was delayed for more than 90 minutes due to a outage that affected computers around the world, according to Judge Curtis Farber.

In addition to setting a trial date, the hearing addressed issues related to evidence in the case against the former Hollywood movie mogul, particularly phone information that will be analyzed by a former judge to determine whether the materials were relevant to the case and should be delivered. for defense lawyers.

At a hearing last week, prosecutors said they expected a new trial in November. They told Farber that they were still actively pursuing new charges against Weinstein, although they admitted that they had not yet presented any findings to a grand jury.

Weinstein denies sexually abusing anyone.

His attorneys told Farber they would prefer an earlier trial date.

“He is eager to go to trial and prove his innocence,” said one of Weinstein’s lawyers, Diana Fabi Samson, outside the courtroom.

Weinstein, 72, is being held on Rikers Island. One of his lawyers, Arthur Aidala, complained that Weinstein did not receive adequate care in prison because of diabetes, macular degeneration and fluid in his lungs and heart.

Aidala was not in court Friday, but another lawyer for Weinstein, John Esposito, told reporters that during a sideline conversation with the judge, the defense again addressed Weinstein’s medical issues. Farber said he would help as much as possible to ensure Weinstein was properly cared for, Esposito said.

Esposito said the preference would be for Weinstein to be transferred back to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, where he could receive adequate medical care so that he would be in good physical and mental condition for the trial.

He was treated in Bellevue for several days after being flown to New York City hours later from the state’s highest court. threw away his 2020 conviction earlier this year. The appeals court wrote that the original judge unfairly allowed testimony against him based on allegations that were not part of the case.

He remains imprisoned in part because he was sentenced to 16 years in prison in California after being convicted in a 2022 Los Angeles rape case. In an appeal filed there last month, their lawyers argued he didn’t get a fair trial. Esposito said Friday that he does not expect the appeal in the California case to be decided for at least another year.

Weinstein’s conviction in New York was considered a landmark in history #MeToo movementan era that began in 2017 amid numerous allegations of sexual misconduct against the once-powerful studio head behind “Pulp Fiction” and “Shakespeare in Love.”

In New York, Weinstein was convicted of third-degree rape for an attack on an aspiring actress and for forcing himself on a TV and film production assistant in 2006. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors said One of the accusers in that case, Jessica Mann, is prepared to testify again against Weinstein. Gloria AllredThe second accuser’s lawyer, Mimi Haley, said last week that her client had not yet decided whether to participate in the new trial.

The Associated Press generally does not identify people who allege sexual assault unless they agree to be identified, as Haley and Mann did.