Jury Selection Begins for Harvey Weinstein’s New Sex Crimes Trial in New York

NEW YORK—On Tuesday, jury selection commenced for Harvey Weinstein’s latest trial regarding charges of rape and sexual assault in Manhattan, a year after a state appeals court annulled his 2020 conviction.

The 73-year-old Weinstein is facing one count of rape and two counts of criminal sexual acts in this jury trial, overseen by Superior Court Justice Curtis Farber. The former co-founder of the Miramax studio, once a powerhouse in Hollywood, has entered a plea of not guilty, steadfastly denying any allegations of assault or non-consensual sex.

Due to various health issues, Weinstein was escorted into the courtroom using a wheelchair. Dressed in a blue suit and tie, he shared smiles with his legal team.

The trial is anticipated to last around six weeks, during which Farber and the attorneys for both sides will interview and select 12 jurors from a pool of Manhattan residents. A unanimous verdict is required for conviction.

By the end of the first day of jury selection, no jurors had been chosen, and the process will continue on Wednesday.

In 2020, a jury found Weinstein guilty of rape and sexual assault, resulting in a 23-year prison sentence. However, a state appeals court voided this conviction in April 2024, mandating a new trial due to the improper testimony of women who accused Weinstein of other assaults not included in the current charges.

Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office have charged Weinstein with the sexual assault of former production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006 and the rape of aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013, charges he was previously found guilty of in the first trial. In this retrial, Weinstein is also faced with a new accusation involving the alleged assault of an unnamed woman in Manhattan in 2006.

During his first trial, prosecutors depicted Weinstein as a serial predator who used promises of career growth to lure women, leading them into hotel rooms or private spaces, where he would overpower and assault them.

Even in the event of an acquittal in the New York retrial, Weinstein could spend the rest of his life in prison due to a separate conviction of rape in California, for which he was sentenced to 16 years. He is currently awaiting to begin serving that sentence while in custody in New York, where his earlier conviction was overturned.

In September, Weinstein was admitted to a hospital for emergency heart surgery, marking one of several health incidents reported during his incarceration at Rikers Island, an environment his representatives have criticized for lack of adequate medical care.

Over 100 women, including notable actresses, have accused Weinstein of misconduct. He has refuted these allegations, asserting that any sexual interactions he engaged in were consensual.

Weinstein’s film production company declared bankruptcy in March 2018, collapsing in the wake of the initial sexual misconduct allegations.