Weinstein Back on Trial: Manhattan Court Hears New Opening Arguments

NEW YORK CITY — Opening arguments are underway in the new trial of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who faces rape and sexual assault charges in Manhattan — just a year after a state appeals court overturned his 2020 conviction.

The retrial marks a pivotal moment in the long-running legal battle surrounding Weinstein, whose original conviction became a symbol of the #MeToo movement. Today, prosecutors and defense attorneys presented their initial statements to a packed courtroom, offering opposing narratives about Weinstein’s interactions with multiple women in the entertainment industry.

The prosecution described Weinstein as a predator who used his power and influence to exploit and silence aspiring actresses. Meanwhile, the defense countered that the relationships in question were consensual and claimed that Weinstein is the target of a "media-fueled campaign" rather than a fair legal process.

With intense public and media scrutiny surrounding the case, the outcome of this retrial could have wide-reaching implications — both for Weinstein and for how sexual misconduct cases are handled in the post-#MeToo era.