NEW YORK (AP) — After years of #MeToo infamy, legal peril, and prison, Harvey Weinstein is once again going on trial on a rape charge in New York City.
Jury selection is scheduled to start as early as Tuesday in the former movie mogul's latest retrial, where jurors will assess — for the third time — whether Weinstein raped hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann in a Manhattan hotel in 2013.
Weinstein's new lawyer Marc Agnifilo informed the court that this trial would not mirror past trials, as it will focus solely on one charge presented by one accuser, unlike the multitude of allegations in previous proceedings. The Oscar-winning producer has consistently denied all accusations, stating in court earlier this year, I acted wrongly, but I never assaulted anyone.
The judge may revisit some rulings regarding evidence about Weinstein and Mann's interactions throughout the years. With Weinstein's recent change in legal representation, the dynamics and strategies of the trial may shift significantly.
Agnifilo, along with his associates, took on Weinstein's defense only in February, after longtime lawyer Arthur Aidala stepped down to concentrate on Weinstein's appeals and civil cases. The differing styles of the two attorneys — Aidala's folksy approach contrasted with Agnifilo's more formal demeanor — could impact the trial's atmosphere.
Weinstein, who has significant influence in the entertainment industry, produced acclaimed films like “Shakespeare in Love,” “Pulp Fiction,” and “Chocolat.” He was known as a notable Democratic donor before the allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced in 2017, igniting the #MeToo movement.
Following criminal charges in New York in 2018 and in Los Angeles two years later, Weinstein was convicted on several counts, although some early New York convictions were overturned, leading to the trial and jury verdict in 2022 that proved mixed. Observations from the previous trials indicated that Weinstein’s defense will likely argue that his accusers willingly sought his assistance in their careers, while accusers assert that he manipulated them under the guise of Hollywood opportunity.
The sexual assault conviction involving Mann is classified as a lower-level felony, but could still result in up to four years imprisonment. Weinstein, 73, has indicated that he is dealing with numerous health issues and has expressed distress over the potential of dying in jail, stating, My mental state is collapsing... My spirit is breaking.
As Weinstein prepares for trial, his fate hangs in the balance, not only regarding the current rape charge but also his ongoing appeals against previous convictions.
