Harvey Weinstein tests positive for coronavirus in prison - union official

By Karen Freifeld

 

FILE PHOTO: Film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives at the New York Criminal Court during his ongoing sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 24, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein, who is serving a prison sentence for sexual assault and rape, has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the head of the state corrections officers union.

 

Weinstein, 68, has been placed in isolation at Wende Correctional Facility, said Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association.

 

Powers said he learned that the test came back positive on Sunday morning and is concerned about the corrections officers, who he said lack proper protective equipment. Several staff have been quarantined, Powers said.

 

Weinstein arrived at Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison east of Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday after being housed at New York City's Rikers Island jail.

 

He was sentenced to 23 years in prison on March 11 for sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress.

 

Following the sentencing, Weinstein spent time at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan for heart problems, according to his spokesman, Juda Engelmayer. He also has other medical issues, including diabetes and high blood pressure.

 

A lawyer for Weinstein said on Sunday night that his legal team had not been notified of the coronavirus diagnosis.

 

"Given Mr. Weinstein's state of health, we are of course concerned, if this is the case, and we are vigilantly monitoring the situation," said lawyer Imran Ansari, who is based in New York.

 

The Niagara Gazette, a local newspaper in upstate New York, reported that Weinstein had tested positive for the highly contagious virus earlier Sunday, citing anonymous officials.

 

Two prisoners at the Wende Facility have confirmed cases of COVID-19, a state prison official told Reuters. The official said he could not comment on any individual prisoner's medical record.

 

The official told Reuters that, with each confirmed case, the Department of Corrections works with the Department of Health to identify potentially exposed people.

 

Mark David Chapman, who murdered Beatle John Lennon in 1980, served some of his time at Wende Correctional Facility, as did Robert Chambers, dubbed the "Preppie killer," who strangled 18-year-old Jennifer Levin in New York City’s Central Park in 1986.

 

Weinstein's conviction was hailed as a victory for the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct by powerful men.

 

More than 100 women, including famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. He has denied the allegations, saying any sex was consensual. 

 

Weinstein also faces separate sexual assault charges in Los Angeles.

 

Weinstein won an Academy Award for producing "Shakespeare in Love" and was responsible for other acclaimed films including "Pulp Fiction," "The English Patient" and "Gangs of New York."

 

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Diane Craft)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-23

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No tears being shed here. 

Interesting, i said a while ago i wonder what misfortune will befall him before he squeals too much, I was thinking Epstein style but this fits the bill just as well...

Poetic justice amongst this terrible situation.

 

It might smell different if they test all the inmates. Prisons can be an incubator for disease. Didn't read the whole article so I'm not sure how Harvey got tested when so many millions of others have not been.

 

 

This guy is really having a great year................................

.

At least he is taking this self isolation thing really seriously

 

 

.

Edited March 23, 20206 yr by sanuk711

27 minutes ago, Raphus said:

Poetic justice amongst this terrible situation.

Hope to see poetic justice for all sex predators and pussy grabber. 

Goodo for him. I would love to be tested. Maybe get yourself arrested for a free test??

Off topic troll and baiting posts removed, also replies

I prefer that they keep him alive for every one of the next 25 years in the slammer.

Don't believe this for a second. He already has form for faking medical problems.

Why not let him self isolate in comfort at home. It seems a real shame to make a frail aged 68 year old isolate himself in prison. After all there is nothing worse than being sick and away from home. What I don't get is why he is not out on bail pending appeal....crappy lawyers he's got.

4 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Hope to see poetic justice for all sex predators and pussy grabber. 

The Gurning Bullfrog is expecting similar come uppance this afternoon ????

Edited March 23, 20206 yr by evadgib

With his 'claimed' underlying health problems could be curtains for him,at least his lawyers will probably turn out for the funeral,on an hourly rate,should think there won't be to many others.

1 hour ago, Pedrogaz said:

Why not let him self isolate in comfort at home. It seems a real shame to make a frail aged 68 year old isolate himself in prison. After all there is nothing worse than being sick and away from home. What I don't get is why he is not out on bail pending appeal....crappy lawyers he's got.

sincerely hope your being sarcastic!

This dude should have been an actor and not a serial quid-pro-quo guy.  First he sets up all the wanna be female stars that, in all honesty, would even today do some 'things' to get in front of the camera.  Then gets his due and all of a sudden gets a movie prop.  Heck, I've had back pain for 20+ years and I don't even have a 'poor is me' media walker.  I just wonder if had the walker during all his interviews?  I'll keep that in my notes in case I ever get rung up.

 

I hope he recovers well from his latest medical issue, and am just wondering what will be next on his medical to do list.

 

OK, just a bit of harsh sarcasm.

In some cases, karma seems too impatient to wait until someone dies and is reborn...

 

Weinstein didn't kill himself.

 

What?  That's tomorrow?

 

Sorry, ignore this.

9 hours ago, Raphus said:

Poetic justice amongst this terrible situation.

How would it be justice, if he’d check out early from this planet? 

Well with his so called health problems, karma has found its host. ?

Wow, that handy, save a fortune if the barsteward karks it, upside to the Corona virus, woo hoo 

2 hours ago, DefaultName said:

Weinstein didn't kill himself.

 

What?  That's tomorrow?

 

Sorry, ignore this.

He wasent pimping kids to the wealthy no ones gonna kill him unless it’s for notoriety hope he doesent infect others

So now we find out if he is as frail as he made out.

 

Like the medieval ducking stool, if they drowned they were not a witch and if the survived they were a witch.

14 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Hope to see poetic justice for all sex predators and pussy grabber. 

I guess you forgot another one which is the president now

42 minutes ago, White Christmas13 said:

I guess you forgot another one which is the president now

I think you are mistaken in Eric case he’s referring to the accused rapist sitting in the white House presently 

2 minutes ago, Tug said:

I think you are mistaken in Eric case he’s referring to the accused rapist sitting in the white House presently 

sorry

One way of getting suicided; it seems to be the modus operandi these days there. 

Next up ... HIV.

6 hours ago, Basil B said:

So now we find out if he is as frail as he made out.

 

Like the medieval ducking stool, if they drowned they were not a witch and if the survived they were a witch.

 well he is frail... (now) 

 

if he were ever to make another movie; it'd be a rehash, of Humpty Dumpty

Sometimes it seems as if the universe supports evil men. It is nice to see something like this happen, to a man who has inflicted untold pain on so many. Being a reasonable healthy man, from a psychological point of view, I can never understand when a man with his power and wealth abuses his position. He could have gotten an untold amount of action, from women who were perfectly willing to offer their affections, in return for career advancement, yet he felt compelled to force himself on so many who had no interest. He will be getting very little sympathy from very few people. Good riddens.