Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced former Hollywood producer and convicted sex offender, has been moved back to Rikers Island after his rape conviction was overturned. Weinstein, who was originally convicted in February 2020 for rape and a criminal sex act, was sentenced to 23 years in prison for his crimes. However, the New York Court of Appeals recently overturned his conviction, ruling that testimony from “prior bad acts” witnesses should not have been allowed.
Weinstein is currently being held in a special cell unit at Rikers’ West Facility for inmates with medical issues. His spokesperson confirmed that Weinstein’s medical needs are being tended to while he awaits his retrial in Manhattan Supreme Court. Prosecutors are pushing for Weinstein to be retried in light of the overturned conviction.
In addition to his legal troubles in New York, Weinstein is also facing a 16-year sentence in California for additional sex charges. He is set to be extradited to California to begin serving his sentence there. Weinstein’s fall from grace has been swift and dramatic since the #MeToo movement brought his years of sexual misconduct to light.
Resources for those affected by sexual assault, like Weinstein’s victims, are available through the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226. As the legal battle continues for Weinstein, his victims are reminded that support is available to help them heal from the trauma of his abuse. Stay tuned to Swerd Media for updates on this developing story.
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