Harvey Weinstein was rushed from Rikers Island, where he is being held, to Bellevue Hospital for emergency heart surgery after experiencing chest pains, his representatives told ABC News.
“Mr. Weinstein was rushed to Bellevue Hospital last night due to several medical conditions,” Weinstein representatives Craig Rothfeld and Juda Engelmayer said in a statement. “We can confirm that Mr. Weinstein had a procedure and surgery on his heart today however cannot comment any further than that.”
They continued, “As we have extensively stated before, Mr. Weinstein suffers a plethora of significant health issues that need ongoing treatment. We are grateful to the executive team at the New York City Department of Correction and Rikers Island for acting swiftly in taking him to Bellevue Hospital.”
The emergency comes as Weinstein, 72, is due in court this week in New York, where prosecutors had been presenting evidence to a grand jury as they work to secure a new indictment against Weinstein on sex crimes charges.
Weinstein has denied any wrongdoing and has said his sexual encounters with women were consensual.
Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in court at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, California, on 4 October 2022.
Etienne Laurent/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Weinstein has appeared in court recently in a wheelchair and has asked to stay in custody at Rikers, where he has been undergoing medical care.
In a shocking move this April, the New York Court of Appeals, in a scathing 4-3 opinion, overturned Weinstein’s conviction on sex crimes against three women, finding the trial judge “erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes.”
The court said that testimony “served no material non-propensity purpose” and “portrayed defendant in a highly prejudicial light.”
However, the Manhattan district attorney’s office has since presented evidence to a grand jury that could return a new indictment against Weinstein over an alleged sexual assault that occurred sometime in a four-month time period between late 2005 and mid-2006 in a lower Manhattan residential building, according to a transcript of an unannounced court hearing last week.
Prosecutors also indicated during a hearing on Sept. 3 that they were aware of two other potential offenses: a sexual assault in May 2016 in a hotel in Tribeca and a potential sexual assault that occurred at the Tribeca Grand hotel.
This isn’t the first time Weinstein has been rushed to a hospital recently. In July, he was transferred to Bellevue after testing positive for COVID-19 and double pneumonia, according to his Rothfeld.
Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced former Hollywood producer, recently underwent emergency heart surgery after being rushed to the hospital. The 68-year-old was taken to Bellevue Hospital in New York City after experiencing chest pains and heart palpitations.
Weinstein, who is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence for rape and sexual assault, has been in poor health for some time. His lawyers have previously cited his various medical issues, including back problems and high blood pressure, as reasons for him to be released from prison on bail pending an appeal of his conviction.
According to reports, Weinstein underwent a procedure known as a coronary angiogram, which is used to diagnose and treat heart conditions. The surgery was successful, and he is said to be recovering well.
This latest health scare comes on the heels of Weinstein’s conviction in February 2020 on charges of rape and sexual assault. The allegations against him sparked the #MeToo movement, which brought to light numerous cases of sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry and beyond.
Weinstein’s downfall has been swift and dramatic, with many of his accusers coming forward to share their stories of abuse and harassment. His trial was closely watched by the public and seen as a landmark moment in the fight against sexual misconduct.
Despite his legal troubles and health issues, Weinstein continues to maintain his innocence and has vowed to appeal his conviction. His lawyers have argued that he did not receive a fair trial and that the evidence against him was not strong enough to warrant a guilty verdict.
As Weinstein continues to recover from his surgery, the public will be watching closely to see how his health issues may impact his legal battles. The case against him has been a long and complicated one, and it remains to be seen what the future holds for the once-powerful Hollywood mogul.
