Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers have opposed a move by Manhattan prosecutors to combine two sexual crimes cases against him. Prosecutors aim to consolidate the charges for efficiency, but Weinstein’s legal team argues the district attorney’s office is acting improperly, accusing them of trying to “smuggle” in additional charges to unfairly bolster their case. In a 12-page filing, Weinstein’s attorneys claim the prosecution is seeking to deprive him of a fair trial once again, as they did in his 2020 conviction.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office responded, stating that combining the cases would avoid lengthy, duplicative trials and conserve judicial resources. This follows the recent indictment of Weinstein on a new charge of first-degree sexual act, based on an alleged 2006 incident in a New York hotel. Weinstein was convicted in 2020 for third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act but had his 23-year sentence overturned earlier this year by New York’s Court of Appeals, which criticized the inclusion of testimonies unrelated to the charges.

The rise of the #MeToo movement coincided with the start of allegations held against Harvey Weinstein.

Weinstein, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, remains at Rikers Island awaiting his new trial, which was initially set for September but has since been delayed to January 2025. His legal team maintains that the new charges, based on allegations known to prosecutors for years, are unjust and retaliatory following his successful appeal. Weinstein continues to deny the accusations from over 80 women, which helped fuel the #MeToo movement.