Harvey Weinstein retained two new attorneys to represent him against sex crimes charges, marking the latest additions in what has become a revolving door of legal teams in his case.
Chicago-based attorneys Donna Rotunno and Damon Cheronis notified the court that they’ve been retained by Weinstein in documents dated Monday, June 24, and made public by the court clerk’s office Wednesday.
The pair are joining Weinstein’s New York-based defense attorney, Arthur Aidala, who earlier this week submitted a motion to dismiss two of the five charges against Weinstein. The two new attorneys understand that the September 9, 2019, trial date is “non-negotiable,” according to the court documents.
Since he was first criminally charged last May, Weinstein has gone through a series of attorneys in his case. Earlier this month, high-profile attorney Jose Baez, who successfully defended Casey Anthony and Aaron Hernandez, withdrew from Weinstein’s defense.
“First, Mr. Weinstein has engaged in behavior that makes this representation unreasonably difficult to carry out effectively and has insisted upon taking actions with which I have fundamental disagreements,” Baez said in the filing.
In addition, attorney Benjamin Brafman left the case in January. Harvard Law Professor Ron Sullivan withdrew last month, citing a scheduling conflict. Pamela Mackey, who famously defended Kobe Bryant against sex assault charges, and former federal prosecutor Duncan Levin also withdrew from the case.
Weinstein faces five felony charges, including rape and sexual assault, for allegedly raping a woman in a New York hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on another woman at his Manhattan apartment in 2006.
Dozens of women have come forward publicly to accuse Weinstein of misconduct after reports in 2017 about his treatment of women, including actresses with whom he worked.
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to all charges and maintains that sexual relationships with his accusers were consensual.
