Weinstein Prosecutors Invoke His Former Power as N.Y. Retrial Nears End
When a prosecutor rose to make her closing argument at Harvey Weinstein's retrial on sex crimes charges on Tuesday, the Manhattan courtroom's televisions showed a picture of him clad in a smart black suit, on a red carpet, smiling with his hands spread before a throng of clamoring photographers.
The image, taken at a star-studded gala at the Cannes Film Festival, captured the former Hollywood producer at the height of his power — power Mr. Weinstein used to sexually assault three women, the prosecutor, Nicole Blumberg, told the jury.
He took private flights, had a personal driver and attended events with dignitaries and celebrities regularly.
'I want you to remember it's not the person sitting here today in the wheelchair,' Ms. Blumberg, a prosecutor with the Manhattan district attorney's office, said, pointing to the picture: 'It's that man.'
Ms. Blumberg's statements, which continued on Wednesday, will be the last arguments the jury hears before beginning its deliberations over whether to convict him on two counts of a first-degree criminal sexual act and one count of third degree rape.
It is the second time in five years that Mr. Weinstein, 73, has faced a Manhattan jury. The state's highest court overturned his a 2020 conviction on sex crimes charges last year.
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