Disgraced former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is reportedly considering entering a guilty plea to resolve a third-degree rape charge, a move that would spare him a third trial in New York on allegations central to the #MeToo movement.
Court Denies Motion to Overturn Conviction
Appearing in a wheelchair and looking notably paler, Weinstein attended Manhattan Supreme Court on Thursday before Judge Curtis Farber. 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, stating that while tensions among the jury were evident—even spilling into open court—they did not constitute intimidation. In sworn statements, two jurors revealed they felt pressured by others' verbal aggression into voting guilty despite personal doubts.
"Jurors don't always behave in the manner we'd hope," Farber remarked, adding, "I believe you had a fair trial."
The Charges and Weinstein's Defence
Weinstein, 73, 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 could not reach a verdict on a third charge concerning hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann, related to an incident at a Manhattan hotel in 2013.
Throughout his trials, Weinstein has maintained his innocence, denying all allegations. His defence argued the encounters were "transactional" and "consensual," suggesting the women engaged with him hoping to advance 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 his detention as a "slow march toward death" and claimed the isolation was unbearable.
Plea Deal on the Table as Health Falters
A retrial on the charge involving Jessica Mann is scheduled for early March. However, Judge Farber indicated he might override prosecutors' demands for a third trial if Weinstein accepts a guilty plea.
Weinstein now has two weeks to decide whether to engage in plea talks. His attorney, Arthur Aidala, stated outside court, "To say he's unenthusiastic about pleading guilty is an understatement." He cited the tremendous toll of successive trials and Weinstein's deteriorating health as factors in the consideration.
Aidala contended that if his client were not Harvey Weinstein, the case would have been resolved long ago, remarking, "To say justice is blind, unfortunately, is not accurate."
This hearing marks the latest chapter 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.
