Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein will appear in a Queens courtroom on Thursday, days after being transferred from his cozy private room at Bellevue Hospital to Rikers Island.
Mr. Weinstein, 72, is scheduled for a procedural hearing over an extradition warrant filed by the state of California following a bombshell decision by the New York State Court of Appeals overturning his felony sex conviction.
“Because he is no longer a convicted felon in New York, the state of California is obligated to request his presence to begin serving his 16-year sentence in New York,” spokeswoman Judah said. Engelmayer told the Post.
“While he’s not technically a criminal in New York, he’s technically a fugitive from justice in California. This is a sign to voters that Gavin Newsom is ‘doing something’ about Harvey.” It’s a way of showing,” Engelmayer explained.
Weinstein’s lawyers will decide whether to waive extradition. The warrant ultimately needs to be signed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul within about 30 days.
Donna Rotunno, one of the “Shakespeare in Love” producers’ lawyers, previously told The City that her client is “sick.”
“Harvey has multiple health issues and has never received the level of care that he received prior to being taken into custody,” Rotunno said earlier this week when her client returned to Rikers after a brief stay in Bellevue. He made the claim after receiving the news that he had returned.
While in the intensive care unit of a Manhattan hospital, the former high-flying executive was treated to the comforts of a private bathroom, telephone and television.
Weinstein was hospitalized following an April 25 decision to vacate his conviction and 23-year prison sentence for rape and criminal sexual conduct.
In making the announcement, the New York Court of Appeals said the judge in the case had committed a series of blunders that prevented the former Miramax chief executive from receiving a fair trial.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has said plans for Weinstein’s retrial could move forward as early as this fall.
