Weinstein's Team Warns Retrial Stress Could Kill Him, Seeks Hospital Stay Over Rikers

Harvey Weinstein’s defense team sounded the alarm in court this week, arguing that the stress of his ongoing sexual assault retrial could literally cost him his life. As jury selection moved into its second day, Weinstein’s lawyers requested he be allowed to spend his nights at the hospital rather than Rikers Island, citing a laundry list of medical ailments — from chronic myeloid leukemia and heart problems to diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, sciatica, and serious mobility issues. A recent tongue infection, allegedly botched by prison staff, sent Weinstein back to the hospital, adding fuel to his team’s claims of inadequate care.

"Because of this mistreatment, he has been worn down considerably health wise, and now faces the stress of trial in this condition, which may very well lead to serious health complications, even death," said his attorney, Imran Ansari. At 73, the former Hollywood heavyweight is making it clear he believes his life’s on the line.

Judge Curtis Farber has yet to deliver a ruling on the hospital stay request. Meanwhile, Weinstein’s courtroom appearances have been filled with drama: in January, he directly pleaded with the judge to move up his retrial, saying, "I can’t hold on anymore. I’m holding on because I want justice for myself." He described taking the "wrong pills" by mistake that morning but said he "caught" the error just in time. He also painted a grim picture of conditions at Rikers, calling it a "medieval situation" and pleading for relief not just for himself, but for all the "suffering" inmates without famous legal teams.

Despite his requests, proceedings began as scheduled on April 15, with jury selection underway. Weinstein’s health issues have been a running theme throughout his legal saga. Back in December, he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital after an "alarming blood test" revealed leukemia, and his representatives have repeatedly claimed he’s being denied proper treatment in custody. "In many ways, this mistreatment constitutes cruel and unusual punishment," said spokesperson Juda Engelmayer.

His legal team has been adamant about what they call a lack of adequate medical care, and his lawyer Arthur Aidala remains optimistic, confidently predicting acquittal and a "lot of light at the end of the tunnel for Mr. Weinstein."

The retrial follows a dramatic turn in April when a New York appeals court overturned Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, citing that the judge had allowed testimony from women whose accusations weren’t directly related to the charges at hand. That decision marked a major reversal in one of the signature cases of the #MeToo era.

With the retrial officially underway and Weinstein’s health a daily subplot, the courtroom drama continues to be as much about medicine as about justice.