Harvey Weinstein Will Not Testify In New York Retrial

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Harvey Weinstein has decided against testifying during his criminal trial, despite initially expressing a desire to do so.

On May 29th, Arthur Aidala, Weinstein’s lawyer, shared with reporters that Weinstein was seriously considering testifying, but it was all about making strategic moves, like in a game. However, they ultimately decided not to let me, Weinstein, take the stand on Monday. They explained that doing so would expose me to unnecessary risks. Yet, they added that I had been eager to voice my perspective in this situation.

He’s not in hiding and we’re not protecting him. He desires to speak the truth, and we acknowledge that. However, the courtroom isn’t solely concerned with truth; it also involves strategy, as Juda Engelmayer, a representative for Weinstein, explained to The Hollywood Reporter.

Instead, the proceedings will shift to closing arguments on Tuesday, as the defense is anticipated to conclude their case by the morning of that day, roughly a month following the commencement of opening arguments on April 23. After this, the jury will receive the case. The court will be off on Monday.

I’m excitedly following the news about Harvey Weinstein being retried on criminal sexual assault and rape charges, which stem from claims made by two women: Miriam Haley, a former production assistant on Project Runway, who alleges he coerced oral sex at his Manhattan apartment in 2006; and Jessica Mann, an aspiring actress who claims she was raped by Weinstein in a Manhattan hotel in 2013. These charges were initially part of the 2020 trial, but his conviction was overturned in April 2024.

Previously renowned model, Kaja Sokola, is the latest accuser in this case, claiming that Harvey Weinstein compelled her into performing oral sex against her will at a hotel in 2006.

The back-and-forth about Weinstein testifying mirrors the events of his 2020 trial.

In the recent retrial, talent agent and manager Thomas Richards Lozano took the stand on Friday as the final defense witness, similar to his role during the previous New York trial in which he was also the last defense witness, based on accounts from media reports at that time.

Weinstein testifying was also a question at that time, but he did not take the stand then.

In 2020, Lozano testified much like before, stating that he had traveled to New York with Jessica Mann, a friend of his, during the time of the alleged rape incident in March 2013. He also mentioned having breakfast with Mann and Weinstein at the DoubleTree Hotel in Manhattan right after the supposed rape is said to have taken place. Lozano described this meeting as a casual conversation and claimed he didn’t observe anything unusual.

In this trial, certain instances have mirrored those from the year 2020, even using identical phrases. Earlier today on Friday, two court reporters read aloud the transcript of Talita Maia’s testimony that she delivered on February 10th, 2020. Judge Curtis Farber explained that due to Maia being outside the state, she could not physically appear in court this time around.

In the court proceedings, it was stated that Maia, who is Mann’s acquaintance, had first encountered Weinstein along with Mann in 2013. Later on, she joined Mann at pre-Oscar and Oscar events, and throughout this period, they maintained contact.

In the statement, it was indicated that she appeared to have a genuine fondness for him on a personal level. During the proceedings, one court reporter took on the roles of Maia, the defense lawyer, and subsequently, the prosecutor during cross-examination.

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2025-06-02 21:24