Weinstein accuser ‘heartbroken’ to relive case at retrial
- New York appeals court overturned Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction
- Weinstein's retrial date is set for after Labor Day
- Lauren Sivan worries his separate LA conviction could be overturned
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If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
(NewsNation) — A former news anchor who accused Harvey Weinstein of exposing himself to her in 2007 says she is “heartbroken” the fallen movie mogul’s New York conviction was overturned, forcing accusers to relive their trauma at a second trial this fall.
“I wish we didn’t have to be here. I wish it wasn’t overturned in the first place,” Lauren Sivan told NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” Wednesday. “I can’t imagine how horrific this must be.”
Sivan, one of over 100 women who came forward with misconduct allegations against Weinstein, submitted an affidavit for his New York and Los Angeles trials detailing her encounter at a New York City restaurant.
“He exposed himself to me. He did what he did in front of me,” said Sivan, who was not part of the criminal cases. “I got away, and luckily for me, I didn’t really have any other repercussions besides just having to witness that terrible act.”
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said he’d retry Weinstein on rape and sexual assault charges after the New York appeals court threw out his conviction last month. The court said testimony from accusers not involved in the criminal charges unfairly swayed the jury.
Sivan said she worries Weinstein’s separate Los Angeles conviction on similar charges could also be overturned on appeal.
“This is really scary,” she said.
Weinstein’s attorney told NewsNation’s “Dan Abrams Live” she believes the overturned New York conviction will impact his separate California rape case and said the former movie mogul could potentially be freed from prison.
“Yes, he’s old. And yes, you may die in jail, but God forbid he is let out of jail,” Sivan added. “This is a man who has sought revenge before in many different ways. And a lot of the women that spoke out against him are very scared for good reason.”
Weinstein, 72, is currently serving a 16-year sentence for the Los Angeles rape conviction, separate from the now-vacated 23-year New York prison term.
