Weinstein's 2nd Sex Crimes Trial in New York Shifts to Closing Arguments

New York Times

2 days ago

Closing arguments in the second New York sex crimes trial of Harvey Weinstein were set to begin on Tuesday, six weeks after prosecutors began laying out their case against him.
Mr. Weinstein, the disgraced former Hollywood producer, is charged with attacking three women in Manhattan between 2006 and 2013. He was previously convicted of rape and a criminal sexual act about five years ago and had begun serving a 23-year state prison sentence when the conviction was overturned on appeal last spring.
Alvin L. Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, and other prosecutors in his office opted to charge Mr. Weinstein again almost immediately, eventually bringing two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act and one count of third-degree rape against him.
Over the past month and a half, prosecutors have sought to establish that Mr. Weinstein used his power in Hollywood to sexually assault and 'exert enormous control' over the three women, all of whom were seeking work in the film and television industry.
He offered the women scripts and promises of fame, and he 'used those dream opportunities as weapons,' Shannon Lucey, an assistant district attorney, said during her opening statement.
In all, prosecutors called 24 witnesses during the retrial, including Mr. Weinstein's former assistants; friends and relatives of his accusers; and workers at the hotels where he is accused of attacking the women.
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