Harvey Weinstein can be extradited from New York to California to face fresh new sexual assault charges, a judge has ruled, according to BBC News.
In March 2020, the 69-year-old film mogul was sentenced to 23 years in prison after he was convicted of engaging in a first-degree criminal sexual act against production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006.
He was also found guilty of committing the third-degree rape of actress Jessica Mann in 2013.
The disgraced millionaire maintains his innocence and has denied engaging in non-consensual relations with anyone.
Despite this, he will most likely be relocated to California in mid-July to face 11 counts of sexual assault involving at least five women in Los Angeles between 2004 and 2013, per BBC News.
This is a huge blow to Weinstein's legal team, who fought for him to stay in New York in order to receive any medical care he may need. In fact, one of his lawyers has since announced that they plan to appeal the ruling, telling Reuters: "We are disappointed by the judge's ruling."
He continued: "We are appealing his decision in New York and we have filed a habeas corpus petition in the Los Angeles Superior Court to prevent the Los Angeles District Attorney from transporting Mr. Weinstein to Los Angeles until he can receive the medical care he needs in New York."
Weinstein's defense team also argues that his health has rapidly been declining since his incarceration. They claim he is suffering from dental, cardiac, and back problems and is apparently "almost technically blind", per The Times.
His team also claimed LA prosecutors had failed to adequately file paperwork in order to claim custody, but this was rejected by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case.
Case reportedly told lawyer Norman Effman: "If California doesn’t come to pick up Mr. Weinstein within a reasonable period of time, certainly come back to see me."
District attorney Colleen Gable reportedly added: "It’s Los Angeles. It’s not some remote outpost that doesn’t have medical care."
Weinstein, who has been accused by more than 100 women of sexual misconduct, is currently being held in Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo.
