Harvey Weinstein has enlisted the legal services of Luigi Mangione and attorneys who have represented Sean “Diddy” Combs for his upcoming third New York rape trial, opting for a change in legal representation instead of pursuing a guilty plea.
The new legal team for Weinstein, comprised of Jacob Kaplan, Marc Agnifilo, and Teny Geragos, formally took over in court filings on Tuesday, replacing his long-standing attorney, Arthur Aidala. Aidala will now focus on Weinstein’s appeals and ongoing civil cases.
Kaplan, who was part of Weinstein’s original defense team in 2018, is anticipated to play a significant role in the upcoming trial, which centers on allegations that Weinstein sexually assaulted hairstylist and actress Jessica Mann at a Manhattan hotel in 2013.
During a court appearance in January, Weinstein vehemently denied any wrongdoing, stating that he had never assaulted anyone and expressing the toll his incarceration had taken on him after nearly six years.
The trial, originally set for March 3 but postponed, has yet to be rescheduled. Weinstein is scheduled to appear in court for a status conference on March 4. The legal publication Law360 was the first to report the changes in Weinstein’s legal representation.
Kaplan and Agnifilo are also involved in representing Mangione in separate state and federal cases related to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, achieving success in dismissing terrorism charges in the state case and eliminating the death penalty in the federal case.
Agnifilo and Geragos, who previously defended Combs in cases involving sex trafficking and racketeering charges, are currently part of the legal team representing the Alexander brothers in a sex trafficking trial in Manhattan federal court.
The trio of Kaplan, Agnifilo, and Geragos are partners at the law firm Agnifilo Intrater. A spokesperson for Weinstein, Juda Engelmayer, stated that Weinstein believes a fresh perspective and strategic approach are crucial after two previous trials on the matter.
In the previous trial, Weinstein was convicted of one charge involving Miriam Haley, acquitted of another involving Kaja Sokola, and the jury did not reach a decision on the rape charge pertaining to Jessica Mann. The trial ended abruptly when the foreperson refused to continue deliberations.
Weinstein’s legal team has been vocal about their intention to continue advocating for him in the appellate courts, aiming to overturn his convictions based on alleged legal errors and prejudice.
The timing of Weinstein’s trial may be influenced by the ongoing high-profile cases of Kaplan, Agnifilo, and Geragos, including Mangione’s upcoming state trial. Despite facing potential prison time for the convictions, Weinstein’s legal battles are far from over as he continues to contest a separate case in California.