Harvey Weinstein Retrial Hears New Evidence After 2020 Convictions Overturned

In the retrial of Harvey Weinstein, his defense attorney Arthur Aidala aggressively challenged the credibility of the accusers, describing them as "women with broken dreams" and "grifters" who used their youth and charm to manipulate Weinstein for career advancement. Aidala argued that the sexual encounters were consensual and framed them as "transactional" or "casting couch" situations rather than assaults, urging the jury to acquit if there was any reasonable doubt. He employed vivid analogies, including one about his grandmother's pasta sauce, to assert that any doubt should lead to dismissal of the case. Prosecutors countered by emphasizing that the trial was about Weinstein allegedly raping three women, underscoring the seriousness of the charges. This retrial follows the overturning of Weinstein's 2020 conviction and 23-year sentence by the New York Court of Appeals due to improper handling of witnesses in the original trial. The trial, which began in April 2025, has reignited focus on Weinstein's alleged sexual misconduct that helped spark the #MeToo movement, with the jury expected to deliberate soon.