NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Weinstein has been moved to a New York City hospital after a judge approved the ailing ex-studio boss’s request to stay there rather than in jail when he’s not in court for his #MeToo retrial.
Judge Paul Goetz late Thursday ordered that Weinstein be immediately relocated from the city’s notorious Rikers Island jail complex to the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan so he can receive necessary medical treatment.
Weinstein’s lawyers lobbied for the move as jury selection got underway this week.
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They argued in court papers that being locked up in a sometimes freezing jail cell was exacerbating the Oscar-winning producer’s health issues, which include chronic myeloid leukemia, diabetes and walking difficulties that require a wheelchair to get in and out of court.
Goetz’s order will remain in effect at least until next Thursday, when he is set to hold a hearing to discuss the matter further.
A different judge, Curtis Farber, is presiding over Weinstein’s retrial. The case will resume Monday with more jury selection after nine jurors were picked this week. In all, 12 jurors and six alternates need to be seated.
Weinstein is being tried again on rape and sexual assault charges after New York’s highest