Manhattan prosecutors announced on Tuesday their plans to file additional sexual assault charges against Harvey Weinstein in light of the expected November retrial of the former media tycoon, The Associated Press reports. Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg said in court that prosecutors are actively pursuing claims of rape that occurred in Manhattan within the statute of limitations. She said some potential survivors who were not ready to step forward during Weinstein’s first New York trial have indicated they are now willing to testify. But when pressed by the judge, Blumberg said prosecutors have not yet brought their findings to a grand jury. She also said she could not provide the court with a timeline for when their investigation will be complete. Weinstein’s lawyer Arthur Aidala suggested the investigation was simply a delay tactic from prosecutors, saying something similar happened ahead of the initial rape trial.
Weinstein has maintained that any sexual activity was consensual. He’s currently in custody at the city’s Rikers Island jail complex where his lawyers complain he’s not receiving adequate medical care and remains essentially in solitary confinement. “He’s suffering tremendously,” Aidala said, adding that the 72-year-old suffers from macular degeneration, fluid in his lungs and heart and diabetes that is “through the roof” because of the poor diet behind bars. “These tactics from prosecutors are just delay, delay, delay,” he added. Blumberg rejected the notion in court and said the prosecution’s plan is to proceed to trial in the fall. “There’s certainly no delay tactics on our part,” she said. “We’re proceeding in the most expeditious manner.” When asked by Judge Curtis Farber what month she anticipated, Blumberg responded: “November would be a realistic timeframe.” Aidala said his client simply wants to get the trial going as soon as possible, noting he’s in his fifth year of incarceration. Judge Farber set the next pre-trial hearing for July 19.
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