'Lock him up forever': Internet pleased to see Harvey Weinstein face trial after rape conviction reversal

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Harvey Weinstein has been incarcerated by a judge during the former film producer's court hearing on Wednesday, May 1, following his rape conviction reversal, Fox News reports. The sex-offender appeared in person in a wheelchair at the court hearing which, mostly, was just days after him being hospitalized. 

Weinstein, 72, was "examined" upon his arrival at Rikers Island jail on Friday, April 26, and then sent to Bellevue. "It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically," his lawyer Arthur Aidala said at the time, adding "He’s got a lot of problems. He’s getting all kinds of tests. He’s somewhat of a train wreck health wise."

Harvey Weinstein will be remanded for now

At the hearing, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg insisted Weinstein be remanded for now and noted the office's plans to retry the film producer on the sexual assault charges as early as possible. "We have every belief the defendant will be convicted again at trial," he said, according to the outlet. 

Why did Harvey Weinstein's defense argue against the remand?

Weinstein's defense argued against remand due to his medical complications. Aidala pointed out that Weinstein was already absolved of the most serious counts and has already served time behind bars. The judge scheduled a discovery hearing for May 29 and Weinstein's new trial was tentatively scheduled for after Labor Day.

Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction was overturned last month

Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction was rescinded on April 25 by a New York appeals court, announcing a new trial in a shocking reversal of a landmark #MeToo case. In a 4-3 decision, the court found that Weinstein's trial judge allowed prosecutors to call women who said Weinstein had assaulted them to testify, even though their accusations did not specifically relate to the entertainment mogul's charges.

Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison

Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison after being convicted in February 2020 of forcing oral sex on TV and film production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006 and third-degree rape of hairstylist Jessica Mann in 2013. 

The executive producer of 'Django Unchained' was acquitted of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault from actor Annabella Sciorra’s allegations of rape in the 1990s. He has denied ever engaging in non-consensual sex.

Weinstein's lawyer first filed an appeal in his New York case in January 2023. The appeal, filed by Arthur Aidala, claimed Weinstein didn't receive a "fair trial."

"Harvey is innocent and never should have been convicted or even tried for these allegations," Weinstein's representative Juda Engelmayer told Fox News Digital at the time. "The trial failed at objectivity from the minute former Judge Burke berated Harvey, asking him if he wanted to spend the rest of his life in prison over the use of a cellphone that occurred before the judge ever entered the courtroom or began the day's proceedings," Engelmayer added.

"Burke was rejected from the bench as a result, and the case should have been too. From the lies a juror told to private lawyers representing non-case-related complainants acting as prosecutorial surrogates, as we were often gagged, the jury was steered in a direction they never would have gone in if it were honest," Engelmayer continued. 

Harvey Weinstein will continue to serve time in prison

Eventually, the appeals court found that the trial judge should have only allowed witnesses to testify about the sexual assault encounters that Weinstein's charges originated from. Multiple women came forward and testified during his trial about sexual assaults allegedly performed by Weinstein even though it wasn't what he faced charges for.

Weinstein will continue to serve out his prison time for charges he was convicted of in California despite New York's decision to overturn his conviction. After Weinstein's sentencing in New York in 2020, he was extradited to California in July 2021 to face sexual assault allegations made by four women in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills between 2004 and 2013.

Harvey Weinstein's other criminal charges

In December 2022, he was found guilty of rape, forced oral copulation, and another sexual misconduct count involving a woman known as Jane Doe 1. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in February 2023. Weinstein's legal team has vowed to appeal that conviction as well. He also faces charges in London for two alleged offenses in 1996.

Internet reacts to Harvey Weinstein facing new trial 

Internet users were delighted to see the disgraced producer face a new trial. One user tweeted, "Hope he gets more time," while another wrote, "Round two, huh? Let's see if justice sticks the landing this time." "Lock him up forever and ever," opined one and another echoed, "Wrong time to drag his raped butt out of prison." 

"Great it’ll be fresh in everyone’s mind. What a piece of shit he is," said one user. 

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