Harvey Weinstein New York retrial for sex crimes begins

Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein’s retrial on rape and sex assault charges starts today, forcing survivors who helped fire up the “#MeToo” movement to prepare to testify against him once more.

Weinstein’s 2020 conviction by a jury was overturned last year by an appeals court that ruled the way witnesses were handled in the original New York trial was unlawful.

Weinstein was wheeled in to court, and wore a dark blue suit and adjusted his tie as he took his seat at the defense table while the trial lawyers spoke to the judge.

The onetime Miramax studio boss was charged with the sexual assault of former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006, the rape of aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013, and a new count for an alleged sexual assault in 2006 at a hotel in Manhattan.

Haleyi and Mann testified in the earlier trial, sharing graphic testimony of their interactions with Weinstein.

Lindsay Goldbrum, a lawyer for the unnamed woman who brought the new complaint, told reporters outside court that she has “the honor of representing an incredible woman.”

“They are going to ensure Weinstein is held accountable for his heinous crimes against women,” she said. “The fact they are going to testify again is testimony to their bravery.”