Harvey Weinstein Swaps Lawyers for a Second Time
By Mackenzie Nichols
LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – Harvey Weinstein’s legal team is switching up yet again.
The now denounced Hollywood big-shot appeared in a Manhattan courtroom early Thursday morning to present two new lawyers to Justice James Burke.
Defense attorneys Damon Cheronis and Donna Rotunno have replaced Ronald Sullivan and Jose Baez, the pair at the forefront of Weinstein’s legal team. Baez and Sullivan decided to step down after reported differences between the client and the team that led to conflicting opinions about Weinstein’s impending trial. This isn’t the first time the one-time movie mogul’s defense attorneys have been swapped, Ben Brafman parted ways with Weinstein in January 2019, leading to a delay in the trial to May 2019, which was then delayed again to a new start date of September 9.
The Chicago-based team of Cheronis and Rotunno will join other defense members Arthur Aidala and Marianne Bertuna, and will continue with Weinstein immediately, this time without resulting in another delay in the trial. It has been reported that this will be Cheronis and Rotunno’s first time leading a court case in New York City.
The once prolific movie mogul pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and sexual assault involving two different women, Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and an unidentified woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013. If convicted, he could face life in prison. There have been more than 60 other women who have since come forward to accuse Weinstein of sexual assault, including actress Rose McGowan, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Judd, and if granted by Justice Burke, other female accusers might be able to testify in order to stoke the fire for the prosecution’s case.
In June, Rotunno had something to say about the #MeToo movement to The Wall Street Journal .
“I’m not a woman who has ever subscribed to it,” she told the Journal. “I believe women are responsible for the choices that they make.”
Gloria Allred, attorney representing the two accusers, responded to this comment outside the court house in a press conference.
“I agree that women are responsible for their own choices, but when will Mr. Weinstein be held responsible for his? Mr. Weinstein removed these women’s ability to choose if he forced himself on them.”
At a previous hearing in April, Assistant District Attorney for the prosecution Joan Illuzzi indicated that their side of the case should take about three weeks to complete, and Baez indicated that the defense would need about one week in response. As for the jury selection process, that should take about two weeks. At the July 11 hearing, Illuzzi and Aidala agreed on an August 15 date to share witness lists and their total discovery findings with each other.
In a press conference after the court appearance, Rotunno introduced herself to the press, adding that she and Cheronis are dedicated to uncovering the truth about what transpired during these encounters.
“The story that we’ve heard up until this point has been very one-sided. I can promise you that there is a truth that you have not reported on. We are here to uncover that truth over the course of the next several weeks.”
Weinstein appeared to be in good spirits Thursday, smiling and saying “Hi” to an attendee as he made his way to his seat.