Weinstein’s laughing at the law
Victims’ fury as rapist film mogul spends 3rd day in hospital suite
HARVEY Weinstein’s victims accused him of getting special treatment after it emerged he was staying in a large hospital suite with his family.
The disgraced film producer, who was this week found guilty of sex attacks on two women, was described as ‘energised’ after being taken to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan rather than jail.
The rapist’s accusers yesterday said that anyone else convicted of the same crimes would have been taken straight to the grim Rikers Island prison, nicknamed Torture Island. They said the 67-year-old was a ‘very good actor’ who, after going more than 20 years before being brought to justice, was getting away with it yet again.
Weinstein was on his way to Rikers in New York on Monday following his conviction when he complained of chest pains.
One of his lawyers said that after being taken to Bellevue as a precaution, the producer was ‘energised’ when he visited.
Arthur Aidala said Weinstein was now in a large hospital room and had his family with him.
Weinstein, who has had failed back surgery, is in a wheelchair after a walking frame he used to hobble into court every day was taken away.
He is taking visitors and there are guards outside his suite to stop him escaping.
Mr Aidala said Weinstein ‘looked like he was in good shape,’ before backpedalling and claiming his client was ‘not a picture of health by any imagination’. He said it was up to doctors to decide when he was fit enough to be moved to jail and that Weinstein was ‘upbeat’, adding that ‘obviously he prefers being in his own house’.
The comments sparked outrage from Weinstein’s accusers who spoke at a press conference in Los Angeles.
Lauren Sivan, who says Weinstein exposed himself to her, said: ‘I think we should all take a moment to realise if this wasn’t Harvey Weinstein, if this was just anyone who didn’t have money and power and couldn’t afford the world’s best attorneys, they would be in jail.
‘If you’re convicted of two felonies in New York, you’re taken to jail, that’s typically what happens, and if you’re not, then you’re getting special treatment.’ Louisette Geiss, who is the lead accuser in a £20 million class action against Weinstein, added: ‘I personally felt like he’s a very good actor. This is a man who knows how to manipulate the Press and clearly he’s done so with his iconic walker.
‘I know women who are literally dying who are also victims – give them the help. If he has to go to hospital, it should be in jail, not at a special hospital where he has his own suite.’
Weinstein’s lawyer Donna Rotunno painted a different picture, saying the Oscar-winner was in constant pain from the back surgery and was being looked after by five doctors.
Miss Rotunno also claimed Weinstein needed eye treatment to stop him going blind.
Judge James Burke, who oversaw his trial, said that due to his health conditions, Weinstein would be held in Rikers’ north infirmary unit, rather than on a general wing.
The former Hollywood heavyweight is planning to appeal his conviction and his lawyers hope to have him home on bail within a week.
He was convicted of forcing himself on production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and the 2013 rape of Jessica Mann, an aspiring actress.
At least 80 women had accused him of sexual misconduct going back decades, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman.
He faces up to 29 years in prison when sentenced on March 11. Another trial in LA on new sex charges will follow.
‘He’s a very good actor’