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Harvey Weinstein’s second trial for sexual assault and rape began in New York on Tuesday, following the reversal of his 2017 conviction.
The appeals court cited errors in how witnesses were handled during the initial trial, a decision that was seen as a setback for the “MeToo” movement.
Weinstein, the former head of Miramax Studios, faces charges related to the sexual assault of Mimi Haleyi in 2006, the rape of Jessica Mann in 2013, and a new allegation of sexual assault in 2006. Jury selection, which is expected to take up to five days, kicked off the six-week trial.
Weinstein, now 73, hopes for a fair trial, seven years after allegations of sexual misconduct, published by the New York Times and the New Yorker, led to his downfall. He is currently serving a 16-year sentence in California for a separate rape conviction.
His lawyer, Arthur Aidala, anticipates a different atmosphere compared to the first trial, noting a decrease in public protests. Weinstein maintains his innocence, claiming all encounters were consensual.
Over 80 women, including prominent actresses, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct. In 2020, he was convicted of assaulting Haleyi and raping Mann, but this verdict was overturned in 2024.
The New York appeals court’s decision, based on the inclusion of testimony from unindicted accusers, has been criticized as a blow to survivors seeking justice. The three women involved in the current charges are expected to testify again.
