Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer has said the disgraced producer is ‘unbelievably energised’ to fight against his rape conviction, despite being hospitalised in New York.
His lawyer, Arthur Aidala, revealed that Harvey claimed he ‘didn’t force himself on anybody’ and was talking about the future and possibility of bail, when the two met after the guilty verdict on two of the five counts, for criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree, was announced.
Arthur told Page Six: ‘We left him at night after he was admitted. Yesterday morning, again with him at Bellevue hospital, I expected to see him distraught. He was unbelievably energized. Motivated to have his legal team fight for justice.’
One point they want to argue at an appeal is Juror 11, a woman who had written a novel about ‘predatory older men’ who they believed may have had a biased opinion, but this is just ‘one of’ the issues they had with the trial.
He added: ‘Next step is an appeal, which could take another nine months to a year. He hasn’t hired an appellate team as yet. A trial lawyer will also have to be at his side to give colour, explain the trial, know the transcript.
‘In the midst of it all and including the chest pains, he was complimentary on how well the court officers treated him. He said they couldn’t have been nicer.’
Harvey’s back problems and subsequent surgery have been evident throughout the trial, with the producer walking in to court with a walking frame.
Arthur confirmed that Harvey was on ‘lots of medications’, which were being given to him in Bellevue, where he was taken instead of Rikers Island jail because he was experiencing chest pains.
Harvey is due to be sentenced in March, and was supposed to await trial in the notoriously violent New York prison, but has so far managed to avoid being transferred there due to his health.
Arthur says the room Harvey is in in Bellevue is a large hospital room, where he has a shower, sink and toilet and his walker has been replaced with a wheelchair, and he gets hot meals.
The lawyer added: ‘His back is in bad shape. They’ve taken him to the infirmary for surveillance. We don’t know how long he’ll be hospitalized. Doctors will make that decision.’
Harvey is due to be sentenced in March and could face up to 29 years in jail.
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: Mira Sorvino hopes Harvey Weinstein ‘rots in jail’ as she celebrates rape conviction for victims
MORE: Harvey Weinstein’s ex-wife Georgina Chapman ‘dating Adrien Brody’
