Disgraced former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is reportedly considering entering a guilty plea to resolve an outstanding third-degree rape charge. This move would allow him to avoid facing a third trial in New York related to allegations that became emblematic of the global #MeToo movement.
Court Appearance and Denied Appeal
Weinstein, who appeared in a wheelchair looking noticeably paler, was in Manhattan Supreme Court before Judge Curtis Farber on Thursday. His legal team sought to have his latest sex crime conviction overturned, citing claims of juror intimidation during deliberations.
Judge Farber firmly denied the motion. He acknowledged that tensions among the jury panel had spilled into open court but stated they had not reached the level of intimidation. Two jurors provided sworn statements saying they did not believe Weinstein was guilty but had capitulated due to verbal aggression from other jurors.
"Jurors don't always behave in the manner we'd hope," Farber remarked, while adding his belief that Weinstein had received a fair trial.
The Charges and Weinstein's Defence
In his most recent trial, Weinstein was found guilty of forcing oral sex on production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. He was cleared of assaulting another woman, Kaja Sokola, also in 2006. The jury failed to reach a verdict on a third charge concerning hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann, related to an incident at a Manhattan hotel in 2013.
Weinstein, 73, has consistently maintained his innocence, denying all charges. His defence lawyers argued the encounters were "transactional" and "consensual," suggesting the women involved accepted his advances in hopes of furthering their careers.
Speaking from Rikers Island jail, where he has been held for nearly two years, Weinstein told the court, "I know I was unfaithful, I know I acted wrongly, but I never assaulted anyone." He described the conditions at the federally controlled facility as a "slow march toward death" and claimed the isolation was unbearable.
Path to a Potential Plea Deal
Weinstein is currently scheduled for a re-trial on the charge involving Jessica Mann in early March. However, Judge Farber indicated he might override prosecutors' demands for this third trial if Weinstein opts to plead guilty.
The former mogul now has a two-week window to confirm or reject plea negotiations with prosecutors. His attorney, Arthur Aidala, stated outside court that while his client was "unenthusiastic" about pleading guilty, enduring another trial would be "tremendously taxing" on his poor health.
Aidala suggested the high-profile nature of the case had influenced proceedings, claiming, "if his client's name wasn't Harvey Weinstein, the case would have been resolved."
This hearing marks the latest development in a landmark legal saga that has spanned seven years. Weinstein has faced two trials in New York and one in California, where he was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He is also appealing a separate rape conviction in Los Angeles.
