Mark Werksman: Last News

Harvey Weinstein’s trial on rape allegations entered its second week with some discussion of how quickly the proceedings are moving.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Harvey Weinstein was already effectively serving a life sentence when he was flown to Los Angeles to face his second trial on rape and sexual assault charges. That second conviction is now the only thing keeping him in prison, after the New York Court of Appeals overturned his original verdict in a 4-3 ruling on Thursday. The court’s ruling could now be used to bolster the appeal in California, which, if successful, could set the former Hollywood producer free.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior Correspondent Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 16 years, effectively ensuring the former Hollywood mogul and convicted rapist will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Weinstein’s sentencing was held in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday morning, nearly two months after his Los Angeles trial concluded with a jury convicting him on three counts of rape and sexual assault. Weinstein is already serving a 23-year sentence in New York, after being convicted of rape and sexual assault in that jurisdiction in his 2020 criminal trial. All three charges on which Weinstein were convicted were based on the counts relating to Jane Doe #1, a European model who testified she was raped by Weinstein at Mr. C Hotel after the L.A. Italia Film Festival in 2013. Weinstein’s attorneys have stated that Weinstein had an unfair trial — and therefore, conviction — because the court, his lawyers claim, precluded the defense from admitting relevant evidence and argument, particularly centering around Jane Doe #1.

The long-delayed Los Angeles rape trial of disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein will begin Monday after a jury was selected today in a downtown courtroom.

Maane Khatchatourian News Editor, Variety.com Former reality star Holly Madison won’t be called to testify during Harvey Weinstein’s Los Angeles rape trial, a judge ruled on Tuesday. The defense wanted Madison to take the stand in order to undermine testimony from actress Ashley Matthau, one of the uncharged supporting witnesses. Matthau, who’s accusing Weinstein of sexual battery, claims the former mogul masturbated on her at his hotel in 2003 in Puerto Rico, where they were shooting Miramax’s “Dirty Dancing” sequel, “Havana Nights.”  Madison, who dated and lived with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner from 2001 to 2008, is close friends with Matthau. The defense intended on questioning her about the two partying together at the Playboy Mansion to prove that Matthau wasn’t a “young, sexually inexperienced naif” who was unfamiliar with “the ways of Hollywood.”

Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer plan to argue that the imprisoned producer did not sexually assault Jennifer Siebel Newsom almost 20 years ago, but had “consensual sex” with California’s now First Partner.

Maane Khatchatourian News Editor, Variety.com When Jennifer Siebel Newsom was caught in the midst of a sex scandal in 2007, she reached out to Harvey Weinstein for help. Siebel Newsom, who was identified by the L.A. Times as Jane Doe 4 last week, emailed Weinstein in 2007, two years after he allegedly raped her, seeking advice for how to handle “bad press” when then-boyfriend Gavin Newsom admitted to having an affair with his campaign manager’s wife. Siebel Newsom defended Newsom, who was the mayor of San Francisco at the time, and made disparaging comments about the woman, calling her the “culprit” in this affair. A judge ruled on Monday that Weinstein’s defense can introduce the email, but can’t question Siebel Newsom about its details.

Mel Gibson has been cleared to testify about a conversation he had with one of Harvey Weinstein’s accusers. But the actor, 66, cannot be questioned on the stand about his previous anti-Semitic remarks as a lawyer requested. Judge Lisa B Lench made the rulings on Friday (14.

Mel Gibson can be called to testify against Harvey Weinstein in the disgraced movie mogul's rape and sexual assault trial.Judge Lisa B. Lench ruled that prosecutors can call the actor to the witness stand to corroborate allegations made by Jane Doe 3, who claims Weinstein sexually assaulted her after giving him a message at his hotel back in 2010.

Mel Gibson could possibly take the stand in Harvey Weinstein’s sex crimes trial here in Los Angeles.

Mel Gibson could possibly take the stand in Harvey Weinstein’s sex crimes trial here in Los Angeles.

Maane Khatchatourian News Editor, Variety.com Mel Gibson can be called to testify against Harvey Weinstein at the producer’s upcoming Los Angeles rape trial, a judge ruled on Friday. Prosecutors want to call the actor to support the allegations of Jane Doe 3, who claims that Weinstein sexually assaulted her after she gave him a massage at his hotel in 2010. According to Deputy District Attorney Marlene Martinez, the woman later told Gibson about the incident during a massage, and Gibson’s testimony would help buttress her allegation. Judge Lisa B. Lench allowed prosecutors to call Gibson to the stand. She also denied a defense request that they be allowed to ask Gibson about racist and antisemitic statements he has made over the years. But the defense will be allowed to ask whether Gibson holds a grudge against Weinstein.

Harvey Weinstein appeared in court again on Wednesday in Los Angeles in his rape and sexual assault trial that began on Monday. On Tuesday, Weinstein’s lawyer, Mark Werksman, asked Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa B. Lench for help regarding his client’s holding cell.

Harvey Weinstein's lawyer told the judge in his sexual assault trial on Tuesday that his client's living conditions are "unhygienic" and "almost medieval." Attorney Mark Werksman asked Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa B. Lench for help with the issue at the beginning of the second day of jury selection in the disgraced movie mogul's trial on 11 counts of rape and sexual assault. Werksman said that Weinstein is being left alone in his wheelchair for several hours in an "unsanitary, fetid" holding cell.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior Correspondent On the second day of jury selection in Harvey Weinstein’s Los Angeles trial, the former movie producer was wheeled into the courtroom, having changed from his jail attire into a suit. “Hi everyone,” he said, greeting jurors from the defense table where he had climbed into a seat from his wheelchair. But before Weinstein faced a group of 71 potential jurors in his rape and sexual assault trial, his attorneys had another issue to raise with the court: the “unsanitary” and “fetid” conditions of Weinstein’s holding cell. “It’s almost medieval, the conditions. I’m concerned about his health and his ability to survive this ordeal,” one of Weinstein’s lawyers, Mark Werksman, told Judge Lisa B. Lench. “I’m worried about him surviving this ordeal without a heart attack or stroke.”

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior Correspondent Jury selection in Harvey Weinstein’s trial is officially underway. Weinstein, who was convicted of rape and sexual assault in his New York trial in 2020, faces 11 new charges in Los Angeles in a trial that began Monday morning at the criminal courthouse in downtown L.A. Nine women are expected to testify in a trial that could effectively put Weinstein behind bars for life, if convicted. Weinstein — whose monumental fall was the fuse the ignited the #MeToo movement — is already serving a 23-year sentence from his 2020 conviction where Weinstein was found guilty of third-degree rape and a first-degree criminal sexual act. The New York Court of Appeals, which is the highest court in that state, has agreed to hear his case. Weinstein was extradited in July 2021 to L.A. from N.Y., where he was serving his sentence.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A judge on Monday denied a defense request to postpone Harvey Weinstein’s trial in Los Angeles in order to avoid publicity for “She Said,” a feature film about the exposure of sex abuse allegations against him. Weinstein is set to go on trial on 11 counts of rape and sexual assault on Oct. 10, and the case is expected to last at least through the end of November. “She Said,” a film based on the book by New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, is due out from Universal on Nov. 18. The film is also expected to have its world premiere at the New York Film Festival, which runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 16.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentHarvey Weinstein’s latest hearing in his sexual assault case was delayed Friday morning when a flood caused a lockdown at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, the Los Angeles prison where the convicted rapist is currently behind bars.“Just a routine delay,” one of Weinstein’s attorneys, Mark Werksman, told members of the media who were sitting in the courtroom.“My client, on the payphone, is still in his cell,” Weinstein’s attorney said at 9:29 a.m., asking for an update from the bailiff, who was on the phone with the prison, trying to arrange transportation for Weinstein to be escorted to the courthouse for the hearing.“It is my understanding,” Judge Lisa B. Lench began, “That there was a flood at Twin Towers where Mr.

Almost a year after Harvey Weinstein was extradited to Los Angeles to face rape and other multiple sex crimes charges, the incarcerated former producer today learned when his trial will begin.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterHarvey Weinstein’s second trial on rape and sexual assault charges will begin in Los Angeles on Oct. 10, attorneys agreed on Friday.Weinstein, 70, is facing 11 charges involving five alleged victims, which carry a theoretical maximum of 140 years.The trial is expected to take six to eight weeks, meaning it would run through the end of November.Weinstein has been held in a medical unit at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown L.A.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterA Los Angeles judge ruled on Wednesday that five additional witnesses will be allowed to testify against Harvey Weinstein at his upcoming rape trial, but excluded testimony from actresses Rose McGowan and Daryl Hannah.Prosecutors wanted to call 15 witnesses to testify about the producer’s “prior bad acts,” but the judge excluded 10 of them.The judge will also allow jurors to be told of Weinstein’s New York conviction involving the sexual assault of Miriam Haley, though Haley will not be called to testify in Los Angeles.Weinstein is facing 11 counts of rape and sexual assault pertaining to five alleged victims. The prosecution wants to call the additional witnesses to show that Weinstein had a propensity to commit sex crimes.