Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced former movie mogul, underwent an emergency medical procedure at a New York City hospital on Monday to address fluid on his heart and lungs. The 72-year-old was rushed from the Rikers Island jail complex to Bellevue Hospital after complaining of chest pains over the weekend, according to his representatives.
Weinstein's lawyer, Arthur Aidala, advocated for his client to be moved to Bellevue due to his chest pains, stating that Weinstein could die if immediate action was not taken. The city Department of Correction's public inmate-lookup website was updated to reflect his transfer from Rikers Island to the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward.
Weinstein has a history of health issues and has been in and out of Bellevue Hospital since his return to Rikers Island in April. He was previously hospitalized with COVID-19 and pneumonia in both lungs last July. Weinstein has also faced a litany of afflictions, including diabetes, coronary artery disease, and chronic pain.
The Court of Appeals overturned Weinstein's 2020 rape and sexual assault convictions, leading to a retrial. Prosecutors have indicated that they are pursuing additional charges related to three new sexual assault allegations against Weinstein. Meanwhile, British prosecutors dropped two charges of indecent assault against him due to a lack of prospects for conviction.
Weinstein, a central figure in the #MeToo movement, was convicted in 2020 for forcibly performing oral sex on a production assistant and rape in the third degree. He is due to face a retrial for these charges. After his legal proceedings in New York, Weinstein faces a separate rape conviction in Los Angeles.
Weinstein, once a powerful Hollywood figure responsible for producing acclaimed films like "Pulp Fiction" and "Shakespeare in Love," remains in custody awaiting further legal proceedings in both New York and California.