Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein had emergency heart surgery on Monday after experiencing chest pains the previous evening at a New York City jail, ABC News reported, citing unnamed sources.
Weinstein, 72, is due in court this week where prosecutors had been presenting evidence to a New York grand jury as they work to secure a new indictment against him on sex crimes charges, ABC reported.
Weinstein, who has denied having any non-consensual sexual encounters with anyone, was found guilty on rape charges in February 2020. The New York Court of Appeals threw out the conviction in April, finding Weinstein did not get a fair trial because a judge improperly allowed testimony by accusers he was not formally charged with assaulting.Weinstein suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, spinal stenosis, fluid on his heart and lungs, and had recently contracted COVID and double pneumonia, according to a statement by Weinstein representatives to ABC.Last week, news broke that Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against the former Hollywood producer. The service said in a statement on Thursday that they’ve decided there is “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.’’
“We have explained our decision to all parties,’’ the CPS said in statement. ’’We would always encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.”
Police had said the alleged offences against the woman, now in her 50s, took place in during July and August 1996.
Weinstein, 72, is due in court this week where prosecutors had been presenting evidence to a New York grand jury as they work to secure a new indictment against him on sex crimes charges, ABC reported.
Weinstein, who has denied having any non-consensual sexual encounters with anyone, was found guilty on rape charges in February 2020. The New York Court of Appeals threw out the conviction in April, finding Weinstein did not get a fair trial because a judge improperly allowed testimony by accusers he was not formally charged with assaulting.Weinstein suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, spinal stenosis, fluid on his heart and lungs, and had recently contracted COVID and double pneumonia, according to a statement by Weinstein representatives to ABC.Last week, news broke that Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against the former Hollywood producer. The service said in a statement on Thursday that they’ve decided there is “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.’’
“We have explained our decision to all parties,’’ the CPS said in statement. ’’We would always encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.”
Police had said the alleged offences against the woman, now in her 50s, took place in during July and August 1996.
Jury finds former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein guilty of rape