Harvey Weinstein loses yet another defense attorney

Harvey Weinstein.
(Image credit: Kevin Hagen/Getty Images)

Harvey Weinstein is bringing in a new team of lawyers following the departure of one of his defense attorneys — again.

The disgraced producer who will face sexual assault charges in a September trial got his third legal team approved on Thursday as lawyer Jose Baez left the case over "fundamental disagreements" with his client, NBC News reports. Weinstein in January brought in a "dream team" of attorneys after the departure of his previous lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, as The New York Times reported. But one of these attorneys, Ronald Sullivan, withdrew from the case in May, with another, Baez, officially having his exit approved on Thursday.

Lawyers Pamela Mackey and Duncan Levin had also previously withdrawn from the case, CNN reports. The latest additions to Weinstein's defense team are lawyers Donna Rotunno and Damon Cheronis. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

A source familiar with the case told The Daily Beast that Weinstein has been "trying to put together the perfect cast and it's not working," largely because he's "impossible to work with." Baez following his exit from the case on Thursday said per The Associated Press, "I feel like I won the lottery. Just kidding."

To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.