NEW YORK (AP) — Manhattan prosecutors informed a judge on Wednesday that they are investigating additional claims of sexual misconduct against Harvey Weinstein, potentially leading to a new indictment prior to his retrial on rape and sexual assault charges.
Some potential survivors who were not ready to come forward during Weinstein’s first New York trial may now be willing to testify.
When Judge Curtis Farber asked whether new charges might be filed, prosecutor Carolyn Blumberg replied: “Yes, your honor.”
Farber set the next hearing for July 9, with the retrial tentatively scheduled for after Labor Day.
Weinstein’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, expressed confidence that no additional accusers would emerge to support the prosecution’s case.
Weinstein, appearing at the same courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial, used a wheelchair, as he has in recent hearings since his 2020 conviction was overturned.
Earlier, Farber addressed prosecutors’ request from last week to remind Weinstein’s lawyers not to publicly discuss or disparage potential witnesses ahead of the retrial.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office claimed Aidala had made statements to intimidate Miriam Haley, a former TV and film production assistant Weinstein was convicted of assaulting.
Aidala defended his client’s right to a “vigorous defense,” arguing that “lies were told at the last trial, and will be told at this one.”
“Who gets to stand up for Harvey Weinstein?” he asked. “Who gets to be his voice?”
Farber instructed both sides to “refrain from pandering to the press,” emphasizing that the case will be decided in court, not in public opinion.
Haley didn’t attend Wednesday’s hearing and is hesitant to testify again.
Gloria Allred, speaking outside, said her client has yet to decide on participating in the retrial. Allred also urged Aidala to apologize for his “unwarranted, vicious and false” remarks about Haley, but Aidala declined.
Speaking outside of court on May 1, Aidala accused Haley of lying to the jury and threatened an aggressive cross-examination if she testified again.
Weinstein’s original trial took place in the same courtroom as Trump’s current trial, although they were unlikely to encounter each other due to Weinstein’s custody status and separate court appearances.
In his 2020 trial, Weinstein was convicted of raping Jessica Mann, an aspiring actor, and assaulting Haley. However, New York’s top court overturned these convictions, citing unfair admission of testimony about unrelated allegations. Weinstein, 72, asserts that all sexual activity was consensual.
The Associated Press does not typically identify sexual assault survivors unless they consent, as Haley and Mann have.
This New York ruling reopened a significant chapter in America’s #MeToo movement, which began in 2017 with numerous allegations against Weinstein.
Weinstein, previously sentenced to 23 years in New York, was also convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 and is serving a 16-year sentence in California.
