New, gross remarks allegedly made by Harvey Weinstein were dramatically revealed by prosecutors Tuesday — just moments before his third Manhattan sex crimes trial kicked off with jury selection.
“If you had seen these girls, you would have done the exact same thing,” the disgraced Hollywood producer allegedly told a court officer.
Weinstein, 74, made the creepy comment in 2020 at his first sex crimes trial in Manhattan Supreme Court, Assistant District Attorney Candace White asserted.
But the stomach-churning statement was only reported to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office last week — six years after the officer heard it, White told the court.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Curtis Farber questioned why it took the officer so long to report the incident, which prompted Weinstein’s attorney Marc Agnifilo to describe the claim as “farfetched.”
“This missed notice by six years,” Agnifilo said, urging the judge not to allow the remark to be brought up during the latest trial.
Prosecutors said they were not seeking to bring up the comments in front of a jury unless Weinstein decided to take the stand in his own defense. Were the convicted sex fiend to testify, prosecutors said they would seek a separate hearing over whether the remarks could be brought up.
The former powerful producer, who has been battling a host of medical issues while in lockup, according to his lawyers, was brought to court in a wheelchair, wearing a blue suit jacket.
He faces a charge of third-degree rape from former actress Jessica Mann, who has said she first met the Miramax boss after moving to Los Angeles to launch her acting career more than a decade ago.
Weinstein was convicted of raping Mann at the 2020 trial. He allegedly made the off-color comment to the court officer on Feb 24, 2020, the day he was convicted, the DA’s office said.
But the verdict was stunningly overturned by New York’s highest court in 2024.
A jury deadlocked on the same charge at Weinstein’s re-trial last year, and Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg pledged to bring it back for a third time, saying Mann deserved justice.
Weinstein was convicted of first-degree criminal sex act for assaulting Miriam “Mimi” Haley, a former TV production assistant, in June, a charge that carries a possible punishment of 25 years in prison. He is awaiting sentencing in that matter.
A California jury also found Weinstein guilty of sexual assault in 2020 and he was sentenced to 16 years behind bars, though he is appealing that conviction.
Two panels of prospective jurors were brought in for questioning Tuesday morning for what was expected to be a two-week trial on Mann’s allegation.
But more than half of the potential panelists were dismissed after the judge asked them if they could “remain fair and impartial” at trial, saying they couldn’t.
One possible juror who bowed out was seen shaking her head when Weinstein’s name was brought up by the judge.
Specific questioning began later in the day, with the judge asking prospective jurors if they were familiar with the allegations or if they knew Weinstein.
Several jurors were then polled privately but none were selected, with questioning set to resume Wednesday morning.
First Appeared on
Source link
Leave feedback about this