Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been forced to issue an apology, but not for the sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape charges that ultimately cost him his empire and landed him behind bars. Rather, Weinstein is apologizing after getting caught with contraband during a search of his jail cell.
The offending item? A box of Milk Duds.
Weinstein, who was extradited to California for trial on 11 charges of rape and sexual assault, is currently housed at the Correctional Treatment Center — the medical unit within the Twin Towers jail in downtown Los Angeles. He was previously convicted on multiple similar counts in New York, where he was sentenced to 23 years in prison — but an appeal in that case is still ongoing.
As he awaits trial, his next trial Weinstein has been permitted to meet with his attorneys face to face — and it was a short time after one such meeting that a search of Weinstein’s cell yielded contraband.
“This was an innocent misunderstanding,” Weinstein said. “It will not happen again. I have been a model inmate, following the rules and regulations and I am sincerely sorry.” https://t.co/goTNNWl6zg
— Variety (@Variety) March 3, 2022
Variety reported on the incident on Thursday:
Harvey Weinstein was caught with contraband Milk Duds in November, prompting a reprimand from L.A. County jail guards, according to records viewed by Variety.
The Milk Duds were found during a search on Nov. 10, after Weinstein had a face-to-face meeting with Shawn Burkley, one of his attorneys. The Milk Duds were confiscated, and the guards warned that they would have to search his attorneys’ legal binders and laptop bags on future visits.
Weinstein claimed to the guards that he had brought the Milk Duds with him when he was extradited from New York in July. But the jail officials said he had been searched upon his arrival at the L.A. County jail’s medical facility, and nothing was found, leading them to conclude that the Milk Duds were passed to him during the attorney’s visit.
The convicted former producer apologized for the incident in a statement to Variety, saying, “This was an innocent misunderstanding. It will not happen again. I have been a model inmate, following the rules and regulations and I am sincerely sorry.”
“We have been informed about this and are very sorry it happened,” lead Weinstein attorneys Mark Werksman and Alan Jackson added. “It had not happened before, and never happened since. Harvey has been a model inmate and intends to continue as such.”
Jail officials have reportedly warned both Weinstein and his attorneys that officials may reserve the right to search their bags during any future visits, and that if they find any more evidence of contraband in Weinstein’s possession, he and his attorneys may be obligated to use a special visitation booth for their pretrial conferences going forward.
Three of the five judges who heard Weinstein’s appeal in New York reportedly voiced “concerns” about the case — particularly the inclusion of numerous uncharged allegations — and his attorneys said they believed it went well. However, even if his New York conviction is overturned, Weinstein faces charges in Los Angeles that could carry a maximum sentence of 140 years.