Harvey Weinstein hospitalized at Bellevue after returning to Rikers Island ahead of court hearing
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Harvey Weinstein's lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
Attorney Arthur Aidala said Weinstein was moved to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan after his arrival on Friday to city jails.
"They examined him and sent him to Bellevue. It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically. He's got a lot of problems. He's getting all kinds of tests. He's somewhat of a train wreck health wise," Aidala said.
Harvey Weinstein returned to Rikers Island just days after the New York Court of Appeals overturned his sex assault conviction. The former movie producer was being held in a special unit at Rikers for inmates requiring medical care before being transferred to Bellevue.
Meanwhile, Weinstein is due back in court next Wednesday, which will be the first step toward a possible retrial.
In a scathing 4-3 opinion, the court overturned Weinstein's conviction on sex crimes against three women, finding the trial judge "erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes."
The court said that testimony "served no material non-propensity purpose" and "portrayed defendant in a highly prejudicial light."
"We are cautiously optimistic and are prepared to go to trial, if it comes to that. There are fewer charges now and the deck isn't going to be illegally stacked against him. While we all enjoy the same rights when it comes to our justice system, a defendant has an additional right to due process. We are glad the Appeals Court judges saw it that way," said Juda Engelmayer, Weinstein's spokesperson.
WATCH | What happens next now that Weinstein's conviction was overturned?
The Weinstein team, which was eagerly awaiting a ruling, was not expecting it to be in Weinstein's favor after a succession of rulings in different courts all went against Weinstein.
He is not expected to be released from prison no matter the decision on a retrial.
Weinstein was also convicted of sex offenses in Los Angeles and sentenced to 16 years in prison there.
Aidala said he was told that Bellevue doctors planned to run a lot of tests on Weinstein before he can be returned to the Rikers Island jail complex.
The lawyer said he's scheduled to meet with Weinstein on Monday. He added that he plans to tell a judge when Weinstein goes to court on Wednesday in Manhattan that a retrial should occur after Labor Day.
ABC News' Aaron Katersky and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
WATCH | Victim of Harvey Weinstein's alleged abuse speaks out
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