Harvey Weinstein will not testify in the retrial of his New York case, according to various American media outlets citing his spokesperson. The former film producer was previously convicted of rape and sexual assault. The verdict was overturned because the trial was not fair.
Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison in 2020 in the case, which revolved around the rape and sexual assault of two women. At the time, the court had allowed testimonies from alleged victims about offenses for which Weinstein was not on trial. As a result, the verdict was overturned last year, and the entire trial had to be repeated.
The new trial started over a month ago. Both parties will hold their closing arguments this week. According to his spokesperson, the former film producer will no longer speak. “He is not hiding, and we are not protecting him,” his spokesman says. “He is very eager to testify. But a court is not about finding the truth, it is also about strategy.”
The now 73-year-old Weinstein is already in prison, as he was sentenced to sixteen years in prison in an earlier trial for rape.
In Rikers Island, New York’s largest prison, Weinstein has already undergone several medical treatments. For example, he was treated for leukemia last year and underwent emergency heart surgery. Weinstein also has several conditions, including diabetes.