At a hearing over whether Harvey Weinstein should be freed on bail pending an appeal of his rape conviction, Weinstein’s attorney said that he is broke and will likely die if he remains in prison.
“Weinstein’s physical and mental condition has deteriorated, I do not think it’s an overstatement to say that if he is not released as part of his application, his chances of surviving in prison are rather low,” said Barry Kamins, Weinstein’s attorney, to Judge Angela Mazzarelli in a virtual hearing.
Kamins stated that his client is almost blind, unable to walk, and on 20 medications.
According to Kamin, Weinstein’s suffers from diabetic retinopathy, coronary artery disease, and spinal stenosis.
The disgraced film producer is serving a 23-year sentence at Wende Correctional Facility after a Manhattan jury convicted him of forcibly performing oral sex on former “Project Runway” production assistant Miriam Haleyi and raping hairstylist Jessica Mann in 2013.
Last week, his lawyers applied for a $2 million bail. If the bail motion is approved, Weinstein must post another $5 million bail for his Los Angeles case before he can be freed.
In Los Angeles he is facing 11 counts of rape, sexual battery, and other charges.
His lawyers argue that bail is appropriate because of the seriousness of the alleged trial errors and the likelihood that his conviction will be reversed.
“Basically, the time he stands to do on [the LA] case is serial-killer time,” siad Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon.
After the hearing, Mazzarelli said she’d issue her decision on Monday.
