Harvey Weinstein fails to prevent extradition to California to face fresh charges

Pandemic has delayed extradition several times

Harvey Weinstein can be extradited to California to face additional charges after several delays, a New York judge has ruled.

The former movie producer appeared via video link at a court hearing on Tuesday (15 June) in Erie County, New York. He has been held at Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo.

Weinstein’s legal team had challenged the extradition on the ground that the paperwork was allegedly not done properly. Concerns pertaining to Weinstein’s health and need for medical treatment were also raised during the hearing.

Judge Kenneth Case denied Weinstein’s team’s requests, meaning that Weinstein’s extradition to California is now cleared to go ahead. The extradition isn’t expected to take place until the end of June or early July.

Weinstein appeared in person during Tuesday’s hearing, wearing a white face mask at the beginning and at the end of the proceedings and removing it at times.

He spoke briefly, mainly to answer procedural questions from the judge.

“We are disappointed by the judge’s ruling,” Mark Werksman, a lawyer for Weinstein, told Reuters in an email.

He added: “We are appealing his decision in New York and we have filed a habeas corpus petition in the Los Angeles Superior Court to prevent the Los Angeles District Attorney from transporting Mr Weinstein to Los Angeles until he can receive the medical care he needs in New York.”

The former producer is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence after being convicted in February 2020 in New York of third-degree rape and a criminal sex act. He has appealed the conviction.

Weinstein is due to face rape and sexual assault charges in California, where his extradition was delayed several times due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Los Angeles prosecutors are looking to try him on charges of allegedly assaulting five women in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills between 2004 and 2013.

Weinstein has maintained his innocence and contended that any sexual activity was consensual.

Additional reporting by Reuters