Harvey Weinstein has been moved from the notorious Rikers Island prison to a hospital on Manhattan.
The former film mogul's lawyers have claimed that his health is deteriorating significantly due to staying in a cold cell, that he needs a wheelchair to get to court, and that he needs care for diseases such as diabetes and chronic myeloid leukemia. A judge has now approved his request, and the move to the hospital is valid for two weeks.
The Rikers Island prison complex has received harsh criticism for how inmates are treated. In 2014, the prison was investigated by the US Department of Justice, which found that the prison routinely violated the inmates' human rights and turned a blind eye to violence. A few years ago, New York politicians decided that the prison should be closed in 2026.
Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison in 2020 for rape and sexual assault by a court in New York. However, after his defense appealed the verdict, it was overturned by the state's highest court, citing errors during the trial. On Tuesday, the new trial began, which will be a shortened version of the previous process.
The allegations against Harvey Weinstein, 73, surfaced in October 2017 and became the starting point for the #MeToo movement. In total, more than 80 women have accused Harvey Weinstein of assault, harassment, or rape.
Weinstein has denied all allegations and claims that all sexual relationships were consensual.
