Harvey Weinstein, the once-powerful Hollywood producer, is making a desperate plea for an earlier retrial date, claiming that his health is rapidly deteriorating. Speaking from his wheelchair during a New York court hearing, the 72-year-old convicted rapist told Judge Curtis Farber:
“I won’t be there for April. I can’t hold on anymore. I’m holding on because I want justice for myself.”
Weinstein has been battling chronic myeloid leukemia, diabetes, and heart problems, conditions that he says have been worsened by his imprisonment at Rikers Island. The judge has scheduled his retrial for April 15, 2025, but Weinstein insists that he doesn’t have that long.
“I’m in a serious emergency situation, I’m begging for you to move your date,” he pleaded.
Despite his health concerns, the judge refused to dismiss an additional sexual assault charge filed against him last year, ruling that the case had sufficient grounds to proceed.
Weinstein’s Legal Battle: A Timeline of Convictions and Appeals
Weinstein was first convicted in New York in 2020 and sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault. However, in April 2024, a state appeals court overturned his conviction, citing “egregious errors” that allowed unrelated accusations to influence the trial.
Just months later, in September 2024, he was indicted on a new sexual assault charge, stemming from an alleged 2006 attack in a Manhattan hotel. The accuser initially approached prosecutors before his first trial but was not included in the case.
In Los Angeles, Weinstein was separately convicted of sex crimes in 2022 and sentenced to an additional 16 years behind bars. His legal team launched an appeal in June 2024, arguing that he did not receive a fair trial.
‘Rikers Island Is a Hellhole’ – Weinstein Slams Prison Conditions
Weinstein also used his court appearance to criticize New York City’s prison system, claiming that inmates at Rikers Island face severe mistreatment.
“There are so many people suffering at Rikers Island. So many of the people I am with in prison are going through similar problems. They don’t have the same mouthpiece I have. It remains a stain on this city.”
His remarks come after a federal judge found New York City in contempt in November 2024 for failing to address widespread violence and brutality within the prison system.
Weinstein’s legal team argues that his health is in immediate danger, with his lawyer Arthur Aidala telling the court last week:
“They know that Mr. Weinstein is dying of cancer and is an innocent man right now in the state of New York.”
Aidala urged prosecutors to prioritize Weinstein’s case, asking:
“Can I try this dying man’s case first?”
What’s Next for Weinstein?
Judge Farber has agreed to consider Weinstein’s request for an earlier trial date, but no decision has been made. Meanwhile, Weinstein is expected to be hospitalized again soon as his health continues to decline.
For now, the former Hollywood heavyweight remains behind bars at Rikers Island, awaiting his second shot at justice—or another conviction that could seal his fate behind prison walls for good.