Harvey Weinstein is in hospital after contracting pneumonia and COVID-19.
Harvey Weinstein is in hospital
The disgraced movie mogul - who is awaiting a retrial after his 2020 convictions for first degree criminal sexual assault and third degree rape were overturned in April after the New York Court of Appeals ruled he didn’t receive a fair trial - has returned to the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward to also receive treatment for a "myriad" of long-term health conditions after falling ill.
Juda Engelmayer, Weinstein’s spokesman, said in a statement: “Craig Rothfeld, Mr. Weinstein’s authorised representative and prison consultant, confirms that Mr. Weinstein has been brought back to the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward so that he can be treated for the myriad of health conditions that he is still afflicted with on a daily basis such as diabetes, high blood pressure, spinal stenosis, fluid on his heart and lungs, and various other conditions.
“In addition, Mr. Weinstein tested positive for COVID and contracted double pneumonia in his lungs.
“We continue to express our gratitude to the officers, doctors and nurses at DOCS, CHS, and NYC H+H who saw to it that Mr. Weinstein was immediately transferred to the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward and will continue working hand in hand with them to ensure Mr. Weinstein receives proper medical treatment.”
Weinstein, 72, was previously transferred to the hospital in April when he complained of chest pains and spent nine days at the facility - where he had a phone, television, and private bathroom - before being sent back to prison on Rikers Island.
Last week, after a tentative date of 12 November was set for the producer's retrial, his attorneys told reporters they were hoping to get him transferred back to Bellevue as his diet at Rikers was causing health issues due to the high sugar levels being served.
In 2020, Weinstein was found guilty of first degree criminal sexual assault and third degree rape based on the testimony of production assistant Miriam Haley and former actress Jessica Mann but the convictions were overturned this year after an appellate court ruled the judge prejudiced the jury by allowing women to testify about sexual harassment and assault allegations that were not part of the case behind heard.
But even if the retrial leads to an acquittal, the former Miramax boss won't be freed as he is also serving a 16-year sentence after being convicted on three counts of sexual assault in a Los Angeles court in 2022.
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