Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein requested on Wednesday that his trial, set for April 15, be rescheduled due to the harsh conditions at Riker’s Island, where he is currently imprisoned.
“I can’t hold on anymore,” he said from a wheelchair, emphasizing his desire for justice and an end to his situation.
Weinstein appealed to Judge Curtis Farber, explaining that many other inmates at Riker’s face similar suffering but lack a voice.
He called the facility a “stain” on New York and asked for his trial to be moved up, even by just a week, describing the prison as a “hellhole” he hoped to leave soon.
While Farber expressed understanding, he pointed out conflicts with other trials, stating that moving the trial earlier could be possible, and he would revisit the issue in March.
On Wednesday, Farber denied a motion to dismiss a new indictment related to a 2006 accusation.
Weinstein’s defense team argued that the delay in filing the charge was improper, but Farber ruled that Weinstein could still face the charge, along with retrials from a 2019 indictment.
His 2020 conviction was overturned last April by the New York Court of Appeals.
Despite the New York conviction being vacated, Weinstein remains incarcerated, serving a separate sentence from a 2022 conviction in Los Angeles.
His attorneys have requested better treatment for his health issues, including a cancer diagnosis.
Weinstein’s representative, Juda Engelmayer, thanked Judge Farber for his consideration and expressed confidence in a fair trial, believing Weinstein will ultimately be exonerated.
