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Harvey Weinstein Reportedly Being Transferred To Rikers After Undergoing Heart Surgery
By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 5, 2020
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Craig Ruttle/AP/Shutterstock
By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 5, 2020
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Convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein has been at Bellevue Hospital for the past 10 days since he was found guilty of two counts of rape and sexual assault in Manhattan. This week, it's been revealed that he has undergone heart surgery, and will now reportedly be sent to the jail on Rikers Island to await sentencing.
Weinstein's spokesperson told Variety that he underwent a heart procedure on Wednesday to remove a blockage; the spokesperson told Hollywood Reporter that he had a heart stent put in. He's now been cleared to be taken to Rikers today, where he will be held at the North Infirmary Command, the jail’s medical facility. NYC Department of Correction spokespersons did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation on Weinstein's transfer.
“He’s nervous but he isn’t in control and has to deal with it,” a source told the NY Post about Weinstein's state of mind.
Weinstein was remanded into custody after the trial finished last Monday, but the ambulance carrying him was diverted to Bellevue Hospital, where Weinstein was initially treated for high blood pressure and heart palpitations. Jail officials were reportedly debating whether to bring him to Rikers or somewhere upstate, because officials were worried about the possibility of "another Jeffrey Epstein incident."
At Rikers, Weinstein will likely have his own entire housing unit so he won't bump into other inmates, which is the treatment high-profile inmates often receive out of safety concerns. One former official described the conditions Weinstein would likely be staying in at Rikers to the Times: “It’s like a little hotel, like your own little apartment,” the former official said. “You have everything you need. It’s very isolated. It’s a way to guarantee his safety.” He added that Weinstein could have his own television, shower and bathroom and possibly a phone.
Weinstein, 67, was found guilty of a criminal sexual act in the first degree against Miriam Haley, and rape in the third degree against Jessica Mann. A criminal sexual act in the first-degree carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 25, and third-degree rape carries a maximum sentence of four—so Weinstein is facing a maximum of 29 years in prison. He will be sentenced on March 11th.
Tagged
sexual assault
heart surgery
rikers
bellevue hospital
harvey weinstein
metoo
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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