Harvey Weinstein has engaged a new legal team from Agnifilo Intrater for his upcoming third rape trial set to start in early March. The new lawyers, including Jacob Kaplan, Marc Agnifilo, and Teny Geragos, confirmed their involvement to amNew York Law on Thursday. Notably, Agnifilo and Kaplan are also representing Luigi Mangione in his state and federal murder cases.
Despite the change in defense strategy, Weinstein will retain Arthur Aidala’s firm, Aidala Bertuna & Kamins, to handle the appeal of his June conviction for forcing oral sex on former “Project Runway” assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. However, Aidala’s firm will not participate in the new trial.
Weinstein’s spokesperson, Juda Englemayer, stated that Weinstein aims to focus on preparing for a retrial of the undecided charge, emphasizing a “recalibrated outlook and strategic approach” in the wake of his previous trials.
The attorneys from Agnifilo Intrater have recently established a strong track record, having successfully removed capital punishment as an option for their client in the Mangione case. Additionally, Agnifilo and Geragos represented Sean “Diddy” Combs in a recent case, resulting in acquittals on serious charges including sex trafficking and racketeering.
Arthur Aidala remains committed to representing Weinstein in civil matters and continues to advocate for him in appellate courts. He expressed confidence in overturning Weinstein’s significant conviction, reflecting a persistent dedication to his client’s legal battles.
The legal maneuvering surrounding Weinstein’s situation underscores the complexity of his ongoing legal troubles and the emphasis on strategic re-evaluation as he prepares for trial.