Harvey Weinstein, the film producer convicted of sexual crimes, has sued the city of New York and the Rikers Island prison authorities for what he calls “deplorable conditions” in prison.
According to a lawsuit filed on November 26, the former Hollywood mogul claims that his health has seriously deteriorated due to the lack of adequate medical care and the unsanitary conditions in which he is held.
Weinstein’s legal team assures that the prison has not fulfilled its responsibilities regarding the medical care required by the prisoner, who suffers from chronic myeloid leukemia, diabetes and other health problems. Through this lawsuit, Weinstein seeks compensation of at least $5 million, alleging negligence and mistreatment, including exposure to extreme temperatures, lack of clean clothing, and delay in administering essential medical treatments.
They claim that Weinstein lives under inhumane conditions on Rikers Island
In a statement, Weinstein’s lawyer, Imran H. Ansari, recounted his last meeting with the accused. “I found him with blood stains on his prison clothes, possibly from the IVs, and in clothes that had not been washed in weeks. He had not even been provided with clean underwear. “The conditions are inhumane for someone with serious health problems.”said Ansari, who compared the penitentiary center to a “gulag.”
Weinstein, 72, has been in prison for several months following an appeals court ruling that partially overturned his conviction for sex crimes in New York. However, his health has been a constant issue of concern since his entry into prison. According to his defense, he has been hospitalized on multiple occasions for complications related to his health condition, but he has always been returned to Rikers before fully recovering, which has aggravated his situation.
Weinstein’s case is not isolated. Rikers Island has been criticized for the poor conditions in the facility, considered one of the most violent and deteriorated in the American prison system. Even though New York City has planned to close the prison in 2027, a lack of progress and increased violence have led to increasing scrutiny from federal authorities.
The fight for constitutional rights
With this lawsuit, Weinstein not only seeks justice for the conditions in which he is found, but also that measures be established to prevent other inmates from suffering the same treatment. In the meantime, his legal team vows to continue fighting to ensure that his client’s constitutional rights are respected and that those responsible for his situation are held accountable.
This process comes at a critical time for New York City, which faces growing pressure to reform its prison system, especially in a place as controversial as Rikers Island.
Here is the full statement from Weinstein’s lawyers:
“Harvey Weinstein has suffered considerably due to the deplorable conditions at Rikers Island. Most significantly, the system has failed to provide him with the most basic medical care. But he needs more than basic care, he needs the intensive medical treatment that would be provided to anyone in a civilized society, prisoner or not. Instead of receiving the medical care he needs, he remains without critical medications, adequate treatment by competent doctors for complex and serious medical conditions, and is deprived of even the most basic and humane treatment. The last time I visited him, I found him with blood stains on his prison clothes, possibly from the IVs, in clothes that hadn’t been washed in weeks, and he hadn’t even been provided with clean underwear; hygienic conditions that are not at all appropriate for someone with serious health problems and susceptible to diseases. I wondered if I was in a prison facility that is supposed to be run according to our constitution, or in a gulag where prisoners are treated like animals. The treatment, or lack thereof, that Mr. Weinstein is receiving at Rikers Island not only amounts to medical negligence, but constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. The disregard for Weinstein’s medical needs is an example of why Rikers Island has been under intense scrutiny by authorities and the public, and is the subject of federal oversight. But we do not live in a country where a prisoner like Mr. Weinstein must endure such harsh, draconian treatment, and disregard for his medical needs, with no recourse under the law. Therefore, to ensure that his constitutional rights are protected and that those responsible for medical malpractice and other violations of the law are held accountable, Mr. Weinstein is suing the City of New York and the agencies responsible for his mistreatment. “We intend to aggressively fight for their rights and, in doing so, defend the integrity of our justice system and the values embodied in our constitution.”
- Harvey Weinstein will not return to court
- Harvey Weinstein found guilty of rape at Los Angeles trial
- Harvey Weinstein: the former Hollywood producer is sentenced to another 16 years in prison for sexual crimes despite asking for clemency