Nearly one week since Harvey Weinstein and criminal defense lawyer Ben Brafman officially parted ways, the disgraced movie producer has hired a new legal team. (AP/Getty)
Almost a week since Harvey Weinstein and criminal defense lawyer Ben Brafman officially parted ways, the disgraced movie producer has hired a new legal team to defend him at his upcoming New York rape and sexual assault trial.
According to The Associated Press, Weinstein's four new lawyers all have experience defending high-profile clients, including Casey Anthony (who was acquitted of killing her 2-year-old daughter), former sports stars Aaron Hernandez and Kobe Bryant, and one of Weinstein's own Hollywood accusers — Rose McGowan.
Two of the attorneys, Jose Baez and Ronald Sullivan, represented McGowan last year in a Virginia drug case. The "Charmed" star, who pleaded no contest last week, was among the first of dozens of women who came forward to accuse Weinstein of sexual assault.
Harvey Weinstein and attorney Benjamin Brafman arrive at State Supreme Court, June 5, 2018, in New York City. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
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The pair join Bryant's former lawyer Pamela Robillard Mackey and ex-Manhattan prosecutor Duncan Levin in representing Weinstein. The quartet of lawyers replaces Brafman, who had been by Weinstein's side since he was arrested last spring.
“I can confirm that I along with Harvard law professor Ronald S. Sullivan have been retained by Harvey Weinstein,” Baez said in a statement to Deadline on Wednesday. “Mr. Weinstein steadfastly maintains his innocence in this matter and we are looking forward to assisting Mr. Weinstein in his defense."
McGowan, who's not involved in the criminal case, blasted the involvement of her former attorneys as a "major conflict of interest."
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"I knew there was shadiness going on behind the scenes," she told The Daily Beast on Wednesday. "This is why my case didn't go to trial — my instinct was my lawyers had been bought off."
"I thought Harvey would get to them behind the scenes and I wouldn't have fair representation," McGowan, 45, added.
Baez and Sullivan said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday that McGowan's case had nothing to do with Weinstein and that they were certain there was no conflict.
"We were pleased to represent our former client, Ms. Rose McGowan, in a matter unrelated to Mr. Weinstein's current charges," the lawyers said. "After consultation with ethics counsel, we are certain no conflict of interest exists. We wish Ms. McGowan well with all her future endeavors."
Weinstein, 66, is charged with raping an unidentified female acquaintance in 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on a different woman in 2006. A conviction could put him in prison for the rest of his life.
Brafman and Weinstein said in a statement last week that they had "agreed to part ways amicably." The split came a month after they lost a bid to get Weinstein's sexual assault case thrown out. The two are due in court Friday for a judge to formally sign off on the lawyer swap.
Weinstein denies all allegations of nonconsensual sex.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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