Disgraced Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein has been rushed to hospital from jail for emergency heart surgery.
The 72-year-old’s lawyer confirmed he is currently in a New York hospital after suffering from multiple health conditions.
The broadcaster was told Weinstein was taken to hospital on Monday morning from the Rikers Island jail. It’s understood the former film producer had been experiencing chest pains.
The once powerful Hollywood figure awaits a retrial following the overturn of rape convictions earlier this year.
Weinstein had been convicted of rape and sexual assault in 2020 and was sentenced to 23 years in jail, but the convictions were overturned in April when a judge ruled he hadn’t received a fair trial.
He was initially convicted of criminal sex acts for forcibly performing oral sex on a film production assistant in 2006 as well as rape in the third degree on an aspiring actress in 2013.
Weinstein was found guilty of two of five felony counts in 2020
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The shock ruling in April came following a 4-3 decision in which it was deemed the judge made an error that allowed women to testify about alleged sexual assaults against Weinstein who weren’t part of the charges against him.
At the time, Weinstein’s lawyer Arthur Aidala told The Telegraph: “This is not just a victory for Mr. Weinstein but for every criminal defendant in the state of New York, and we compliment the Court of Appeals for upholding the most basic principles that a criminal defendant should have in a trial.”
Weinstein denied the charges against him, arguing his relations with the women accusing him were consensual.
2017 saw a flood of allegations against the powerful figure as the Me Too movement was sparked.
Weinstein has been rushed to hospital
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More than 80 women spoke out against the Oscar-winning Hollywood mogul with allegations of sexual assault and harassment.
He remains in jail due to his 2022 conviction of rape in Los Angeles, which saw him sentenced to 16 years.
The producer has struggled with serious health issues in the past and has been admitted to hospital on a number of occasions over the last few years.
It was announced in July he was being treated for Covid-19 and double pneumonia, and back in 2020 he was hospitalised with chest pains.
Weinstein’s conviction was overturned in April
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More than 100 people made rape and misconduct claims against Weinstein, which dated back to the 1970s.
Along with his brother Bob, Weinstein co-founded entertainment company Miramax. His films received more than 300 Oscar nominations.