A Manhattan judge tentatively set a late 2024 start date for Harvey Weinstein’s retrial on rape and sexual assault charges in court Friday — after the disgraced movie mogul’s appearance was delayed due to a global software outage.
A decrepit Weinstein, 72, wore crooked glasses as he sat in Manhattan Supreme Court in a wheelchair to hear Judge Curtis Farber set the new trial for November 12.
The ex-Miramax honcho — whose conviction and 23-year sentence were overturned in April — had been expected to again appear before a jury in September.
But Manhattan prosecutors said last week they wouldn’t be ready until November, as they continue to wait to bring new charges against the disgraced film tycoon.
Weinstein’s appearance was delayed by an hour and 40 minutes Friday morning due to the worldwide CrowdStrike/Microsoft software glitch affecting the court’s computer systems, the judge said.
“I apologize to everyone for the delayed start,” the judge said, “… due to a disruption in the computer system both in court and the Department of Corrections, there was a delay in bringing Mr. Weinstein to the courtroom.”
Weinstein’s attorney, Diana Fabi Samson, said Weinstein is eager to head to trial despite the delay.
“He is anxious to go to trial and prove his innocence,” Fabi Samson said after the court appearance. “Physically, he is not well, and that has affected his mental state.”
Weinstein’s attorney laid out a buffet of health issues plaguing the film producer, saying his diet is being destroyed by too much sugar being served at Rikers Island.
His attorneys said outside the courthouse they hope to have Weinstein transferred back to Bellevue Hospital, where he was staying when his conviction was overturned.
Weinstein had been convicted on charges of criminal sex act and rape for forcibly performing oral sex on Miriam “Mimi” Haleyi, a former “Project Runway” production assistant, in 2006 and raping hairstylist Jessica Mann in 2013.
Weinstein is remanded while he continues to serve a February 2023 Los Angeles criminal conviction for raping an Italian model at a film festival in 2013.
Weinstein returns to court on September 12, when the judge is expected to rule on discovery matters.