New York grand jury discusses possible new charges against Harvey Weinstein

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has begun presenting evidence to a grand jury that could bring new charges against Harvey Weinstein as early as Friday. The accusation is said to have occurred sometime between late 2005 and mid-2006 in a Lower Manhattan apartment building, according to the transcript of an unannounced court hearing this week.

During a hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors also said they were aware of two other possible crimes: a sexual assault in May 2016 at a Tribeca hotel and a possible sexual assault that took place at the Tribeca Grand Hotel.

Notifying the defense of potential crimes does not guarantee what charges a new indictment might contain. The grand jury term is expected to end Friday, at which point prosecutors could hold a vote on potential charges.

A spokeswoman for the Manhattan district attorney's office declined to comment.

Weinstein's attorney Arthur Aidala suggested during the hearing that Weinstein himself could testify before the grand jury.

“Mr. Weinstein is very, very seriously considering putting himself on the grand jury and showing the jury what he looks like today,” Aidala said, according to the transcript.

Weinstein denies any wrongdoing and says his sexual encounters were consensual.

The New York Court of Appeals overturned his 2020 rape conviction by a 4-3 vote. He remains incarcerated at Rikers Island while he appeals a conviction in Los Angeles.

The Manhattan district attorney's office signaled this summer that it would retry Weinstein, and prosecutors said they had spoken to other alleged victims whose testimony was not part of the original case.

The trial is tentatively scheduled for this fall.