A prosecutor announced Thursday that he has filed more criminal charges against former movie producer Harvey Weinstein. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is preparing to retry the former movie mogul’s case after his rape conviction was overturned.
Former film producer Harvey Weinstein, who is serving a 16-year prison sentence for rape and sexual assault, has been charged with new sex crimes in New York, U.S. Attorney Nicole Blumberg said Thursday.
Weinstein, 72, was not at Thursday's hearing because he was taken to hospital for heart surgery on Sunday.
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At trial in New York four years ago, Weinstein was found guilty of raping actress Jessica Mann and sexually assaulting Miriam Haley, a former TV and film producer, and was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
However, in April, a New York state appeals court overturned that conviction, arguing that it had unfairly allowed testimony against the filmmaker based on accusations made by other women who were not part of the trial.
Weinstein's attorney said it was unfair for prosecutors to bring additional charges after the verdict was overturned.
Harvey WeinsteinPAP/EPA
Weinstein convicted of sex crimes
Weinstein was also sentenced to 16 years in prison by a Los Angeles court for sex crimes. He is serving his sentence at Rikers Island in New York.
According to Weinstein's lawyers, his health has deteriorated significantly in recent years and he is now confined to a wheelchair due to back problems.
Weinstein’s conviction was a milestone in the #MeToo campaign, in which women have accused hundreds of men in the entertainment industry, media and politics of sexual misconduct.
Main image source: PAP/EPA