Harvey Weinstein whines that Rikers Island's carb-heavy meals are making his sugar go 'through the roof' as he begs to be let out after bombshell rape conviction U-turn
Harvey Weinstein's attorney has whined that his Rikers Island carb-heavy diet is making his sugar go 'through the roof' as he begged to get him let out of jail.
The disgraced movie mogul's 2020 rape conviction was overturned in April, and he appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday as DA Alvin Bragg prepares to file new charges against him.
Today, the prosecutor revealed that they are going out and looking for potential victims for a new indictment - and that they're aiming to try the case by November.
His lawyer Arthur Aidala argued that if there is a case to be made, the ball needs to get rolling rather than causing delays after delays.
He also chronicled the ailments Weinstein is facing after nearly five years in prison, including how his meals in the New York jail are negatively affecting his health.
Weinstein’s accuser Jessica Man was in the courtroom on the second row for the hearing at New York Supreme Criminal Court on Tuesday.
The disgraced movie mogul's 2020 rape conviction was overturned in April, and he appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday (pictured) as DA Alvin Bragg prepares to file new charges against him
Prosecutor Nicole Blumberg told the court on Tuesday: 'The people are still investigating trauma informed matter, violet sexual assault we believe the defendant committed within the statue of limitations.
'It is an ongoing process. We don’t anticipate a delay but I can't give the court a specific timeframe. We believe it will be before the fall.'
Weinstein’s lawyer Arthur Aidala said: 'We have been down this road before. We need abundant notice before any case so we can provide evidence to the grand jury.
'Typically, there is a crime, therefore a complaining witness and then you search for the defendant.
'Once again, they have a defendant looking for a crime which as a citizen really troubles me because that is not the way it is supposed to happen.
'They're supposed to be alerted to a crime. Here once again we have the indictment and like last time, hotline 1-800 get Harvey to find someone else.
'Mr Weinstein is in his fifth year being incarcerated based on an illegal conviction and he has suffered tremendously.
'Since the beginning of his incarceration, four and a half years ago, Mr Weinstein has always been in a hospital setting.'
Aidala said that he had a doctor's note stating that Weinstein has fluid on is heart, fluid in his lungs, spinal scoliosis and diabetes that is 'going through the roof.'
He said that the diabetes was caused by 'the diet they give in Rikers Island [which] is 90 percent carbohydrates which just turn into sugar.'
'His sugar levels are through the roof. He is basically getting no treatment for any of that. He regularly calls in excruciating pain and exhaustion,' he added.
Aidala added that Mr Weinstein is in a ward on his own and the only contact he has is with prison officers or people from his office.
Weinstein is flanked by his legal team in Manhattan court this morning
Weinstein, pictured with ex-wife Georgina Chapman in happier times, was a titan of the movie industry before allegations of sexual abuse made him the face of the #MeToo movement
Pictured: The Rikers Island jail
‘We are trying to speak to the city's attorneys to see whether he can go back to a facility with onsite medical attention.
'He needs some relief. There is a light at the end of the tunnel for Mr Weinstein. He is not a young man, he is a sick man, he has young kids and wants to get out.
'It’s just delay, delay, delay. All I am asking for is time, we just need to get the ball rolling.’
Blumberg responded: 'There are certainly no delay tactics on the people’s part. We are moving in the most expediting manner possible.
'We also indicated we will continue to work diligently and turn over the evidence on a rolling basis. We went through and spoke to many individuals who indicated the defendant raped them in Manhattan.
'We are actively pursuing those instances in which we believe the defendant forcibly raped and sexually assaulted women in Manhattan which fall in that statute of limitations.
'There were women who were not ready to proceed in the legal process, some of those women are now ready.
Harvey Weinstein accuser Jessica Mann leaves after attending the hearing at New York criminal court
'We are meeting with those individuals and diligently proceeding - that will not stop us from processing to trial.
'We will stick to that timeline. We intend to try the case in fall. We believe November will be a realistic timeline.'
Weinstein’s attorney Adala said: ‘Mr Weinstein is begging us to move forward- we were talking about September now we are talking about November.'
The next court date is July 19.
Aidala told reporters outside the courthouse: ‘He’s completely suffering in Rikers Island. We are not talking about a hangnail or a stubbed toe.
‘He’s 73 years old, he hasn’t gotten treatment in a long time
‘He was in better shape before this case was reversed. When he was upstate he was in a hospital and getting better treatment and medication.’
‘Jessica’s in the courtroom, she seems the one ready, willing and able to go forward but what everyone needs to know is that if this case goes sideways for us and he gets convicted, the judge can’t give him another minute in jail.
‘It’s a waste of time.
‘He’s basically in solitary confinement, he’s got a new book that makes him very happy.
‘It’s about 20th Century Fox and the movie industry so he reads profusely. I believe he does have access to a television now and again but he’s more or less alone.'
