Harvey Weinstein admits he has ‘regrets’ and ‘acted immorally’ as he awaits verdict in New York rape trial | EUROtoday

Harvey Weinstein, in a uncommon interview whereas awaiting the decision in his New York intercourse crimes retrial, mentioned he has “regrets” and admits he “acted immorally,” however insists his actions had been “never illegal.”

Speaking on the telephone Friday with Fox 5 anchor Rosanna Scotto, the 73-year-old disgraced filmmaker and convicted intercourse offender additionally dismissed the credibility of his accusers, implying they had been financially motivated, referencing his lawyer’s declare that they’d “4 million reasons” to testify.

“I have regrets that I put my family through this, that I put my wife through this, and I acted immorally,” Weinstein advised Scotto. “I put so many friends through this and hurt people that were close to me by actions that were stupid, you know what I mean? But never illegal, never criminal, never anything.”

open picture in gallery

Scotto additionally requested Weinstein why he determined to not testify within the retrial. He admitted that he “wanted to,” however was suggested to not by his legal professional, Arthur Aidala.

Weinstein claimed Aidala “said to me that the jury was very feeling strongly, that the jury understood our case and would be sympathetic to our case, and that the [District Attorney] would try to rip me apart if I took the stand.”

“I’m not afraid of the DA, but this was the best advice and this is the advice you often hear: don’t take the stand if you don’t have to,” Weinstein added.

A Manhattan jury, comprised of seven ladies and 5 males, remained in deliberations on Friday afternoon. They started deliberations Thursday after greater than 5 weeks of testimony.

Weinstein faces two counts of prison sexual act and one rely of rape, stemming from alleged incidents involving three ladies between 2002 and 2013. He has pleaded not responsible to all prices.

This retrial follows the 2024 overturning of Weinstein’s 2020 conviction, the place he was beforehand sentenced to 23 years in jail for related offenses. The New York Court of Appeals vacated the conviction resulting from procedural errors, together with the admission of testimony from uncharged accusers, which the court docket deemed prejudicial.

open picture in gallery

During deliberations, a juror expressed considerations about inside discord among the many panel, citing unfair therapy. However, the decide denied the juror’s request to be excused, stating there was no authorized foundation for elimination for the reason that juror confirmed no coercion to change their stance on the case.

Weinstein is serving a 16-year jail sentence from a separate 2022 conviction in California.