Harvey Weinstein To Fight Move To Los Angeles Jail Due To COVID-19 Scare

Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein thinks that sending him to a Los Angeles jail to await trial is a death sentence; something he plans to resist.

Per a report from TMZ, the L.A. County District Attorney wants Weinstein extradited to the area for another sexual assault trial but the producer feels he won’t live long there because of COVID-19.

Weinstein’s lawyer, Norman Effman, revealed to the news outlet that he plans to fight the move, saying his client’s health would be at serious risk if he is transferred to L.A. where COVID-19 cases have been on the increase (especially the county’s jail system which has been plagued by outbreaks of the pandemic).

Weinstein tested positive for COVID-19 in March 2020 and recovered, but his lawyer says his recovery is no guarantee that he is immune to the virus.

Effman pointed out that the Wende Correctional Facility in New York (where Weinstein is currently serving his 23-year sentence) has a low infection rate and zero COVID-19 deaths, arguing that there is no reason to send his client from a relatively safe environment to a dangerous one.

According to the Effman, Weinstein is not fighting extradition altogether, he just intends to wait until the conditions are safer.

The coronavirus outbreak delayed Weinstein’s extradition back in May and a hearing is set for next week to address the issue again.

Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in jail in March 2020 after being convicted of committing a criminal sex act in the first degree and rape in the third degree.

He is facing 5 felony charges in L.A.; sexual battery by restraint, forcible rape, sexual penetration by use of force, sexual battery and forcible oral copulation.