Harvey Weinstein has enlisted new legal representation for his upcoming third New York rape trial, opting for lawyers previously associated with Luigi Mangione and Sean “Diddy” Combs. This decision follows his rejection of a guilty plea and a reshuffling of his legal team. The new attorneys, Jacob Kaplan, Marc Agnifilo, and Teny Geragos, have officially taken over from Weinstein’s longtime lawyer, Arthur Aidala, who will now focus on the ex-studio boss’s appeals and other legal matters.
Kaplan, a member of Weinstein’s original defense team in 2018, is expected to play a key role in the upcoming trial, which centers on allegations that Weinstein raped hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann in a Manhattan hotel in 2013. Weinstein, during a recent hearing, maintained his innocence, stating he had never assaulted anyone and expressing the toll his time behind bars has taken on him.
The trial, initially set for March 3, has been postponed and awaits a rescheduled date. Weinstein is scheduled to appear in court on March 4 for a status conference. Kaplan and Agnifilo are currently representing Mangione in separate state and federal cases related to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. They have achieved success in having terrorism charges dismissed in the state case and preventing the imposition of the death penalty in the federal case.
Agnifilo and Geragos, who previously defended Combs in a high-profile case, are also part of Weinstein’s new legal team. They are currently involved in defending the Alexander brothers in a sex trafficking trial in Manhattan federal court. All three attorneys are partners at the Manhattan-based law firm Agnifilo Intrater.
Weinstein’s spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, stated that Weinstein believes a fresh perspective and strategic approach are necessary for a successful outcome after two prior trials. In a previous trial, Weinstein was found guilty of one count of criminal sexual act but acquitted of another charge. The jury did not reach a verdict on the rape charge involving Mann, leading to a hung jury.
Weinstein’s legal team has been actively pursuing appeals and maintaining their dedication to his case. The ongoing legal proceedings could potentially impact the timing of Weinstein’s trial, which prosecutors estimate could last up to five weeks. Weinstein faces a potential maximum sentence of 25 years for the criminal sexual act conviction and up to four years for the unresolved rape charge involving Mann. He has been incarcerated since his initial conviction in 2020 and is also appealing a separate case in California.