Now we know why disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein needed assistance for his latest court appearance last week. Weinstein was clearly weak as he struggled to walk down steps following his court appearance on Dec. 6.
According to Weinstein’s lawyer, he needs an operation to correct a back injury sustained in a car accident in August.
Attorney Donna Rotunno, who claims her client uses a walker, lashed out at the news media for suggesting Weinstein is faking his back injury to gain sympathy ahead of his upcoming sexual abuse trial.
“I was dismayed to see all the press coverage incorrectly stating that Mr. Weinstein was trying to garner sympathy at his court appearance,” she said in a statement obtained by TMZ.
“Prior to entering the court, he wanted to leave the walker in the car, so it did not appear that he was looking for sympathy as he is not. The press surrounding his physical condition is mean spirited and false.”
Prosecutors accused Weinstein of tampering with his ankle bracelet. A monitoring service was unable to track him on 56 occasions. The prosecutor asked a judge to raise Weinstein’s bond from $1 million to $5 million.
Over a dozen women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct and abuse.
Weinstein’s trial begins in January. He pleaded not guilty to charges he raped a woman in 2013 and performed a forcible sex act on another woman in 2006.
