Harvey Weinstein’s attorney announced on Saturday that the former movie mogul has been admitted to a hospital in New York City for a series of medical tests following his return to the city after a court ruling overturned his 2020 rape conviction.
Lawyer Arthur Aidala stated that Mr. Weinstein was transferred to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan upon his arrival in the city jails on Friday.
“They conducted an examination and then sent him to Bellevue. It appears that he requires significant physical assistance. He is facing numerous health issues and is undergoing a battery of tests. His health is in a precarious state,” said Mr. Aidala.
A call made to the hospital on Saturday was not immediately returned.
Frank Dwyer, a spokesperson for the New York City Department of Correction, confirmed that Mr. Weinstein is currently in custody at Bellevue. Thomas Mailey, a spokesperson for the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, mentioned that Mr. Weinstein was handed over to the city’s Department of Correction in accordance with the appeals ruling. Mr. Weinstein had been housed at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, approximately 100 miles northwest of Albany.
Following the New York Court of Appeals decision on Thursday to overturn his conviction, Mr. Weinstein’s 23-year prison sentence was voided, and a retrial was ordered due to jurors being exposed to evidence unrelated to the charges he faced.
Prosecutors plan to retry him for forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and raping an aspiring actor in 2013. Despite the appeals ruling, Mr. Weinstein remains in custody as he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 for another rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Mr. Weinstein has been struggling with various health issues, including heart problems, diabetes, sleep apnea, and eye conditions.
Mr. Aidala mentioned that he had spoken to Mr. Weinstein on Friday afternoon during his transfer from an upstate jail to New York City, less than 24 hours after the appeals ruling was announced. He highlighted that Mr. Weinstein’s physical ailments are significant but emphasized that mentally he remains sharp.
According to Mr. Aidala, state corrections and prison officials typically take a week or two to arrange transportation for a prisoner, but Mr. Weinstein allegedly received poor treatment during his transfer, with no access to water, food, or restroom breaks.
Mr. Aidala reported that Bellevue doctors plan to conduct extensive tests on Mr. Weinstein before he can be returned to the Rikers Island jail complex. He is scheduled to meet with Mr. Weinstein on Monday and intends to request a retrial after Labor Day during the court appearance on Wednesday in Manhattan.
By Larry Neumeister
