LT: Harvey Weinstein's Lawyer Arthur Aidala Claims Jennifer Mann's Claims Of Rape Are 'Ridiculous'

After disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein suffered chest pains post his conviction of rape and sexual assault, he was admitted to Bellevue Hospital when he remains under care. While his release date from the hospital is yet to be confirmed, he will be transferred to Rikers Island and put behind bars once he is given a bill of clean health. As per her attorney Arthur Aidala, he is “in disbelief” over his conviction but “not delusional.”

On February 24, 2020, Weinstein convicted the first-degree sexual assault for forcing Miriam Haley to have oral sex in 2006, and for third-degree of Jessica Mann in a New York City hotel room in 2013.

“He’s still in disbelief of the charges he was convicted of. He’s very consistent about his innocence,” Arthur Aidala shared after he visited Weinstein in the hospital.

“He’s realistic, and he knows he’s got a major problem. He’s not delusional,” Weinstein’s attorney said. “But at the same time, we didn’t get into anything about him being apologetic. He’s very consistent that he didn’t do anything wrong — he didn’t do anything against anyone’s will. The Jessica Mann charge is ridiculous. They were boyfriend and girlfriend. That was the no-means-no rape — it wasn’t the forcible rape,” he said.

“The thing with Mimi,” Aidala added, “Mr. Weinstein said, “If I really violated her, is she really going to have consensual sex with me a few days later?” That just didn’t happen.”

Aidala shared that when he met Weinstein, he in good spirits as they planned how to appeal once the verdict is finalized on March 11. He is facing a maximum sentence of 29 years in New York prison but Aidala is confident that Weinstein will not serve this long punishment of nearly three decades. He also stressed that his client is not faking health problems as his blood pressure had spiked to the point that he needed immediate care.

As for Weinstein’s transfer to Rikers, Aidala couldn’t confirm the date but he assured that he will be taken straight from Bellevue to the North Infirmary Complex at Rikers Island whenever the doctors decide that he is okay enough to be transferred.