Special treatment for Weinstein amid fears of “another Jeffrey Epstein incident”
Convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein will reportedly be given special treatment as jail officials raise concerns over another possible “Epstein incident”.
According to TMZ, officials at New York City Department of Correction are taking extraordinary measures to monitor Weinstein amid fears of an event similar to the death of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was found hanging in his federal jail cell at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center in July 2019.
“The last thing you want is another Jeffrey Epstein incident,” a source told The New York Post.
“Harvey is going to be isolated as much as possible and will always have a detail with him throughout the prison. He’s never going to be like other prisoners, able to walk down the hallway or sit in the canteen alone.”
The special surveillance has started on Monday at Bellevue Hospital Center, where Weinstein was being treated for chest pains following his conviction of third-degree rape and sexual assault.
A jail captain escorted Weinstein on every move and the entire hospital unit was shut down to prevent him from encountering other inmates, Joe Russo, president of the Assistant Deputy Wardens / Deputy Wardens Association told The City.
“There seems to be a Jeffrey Epstein influence here,” Russo said.
Russo said Weinstein could get an entire housing unit just for himself if he is sent to Rikers Island as expected.
“He’s very high-profile and you can’t put him with somebody else.”
Sources told The Post state officials will have the final decision on where Weinstein will stay.
Weinstein faces up to 29 years in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping former actress Jessica Mann in 2013. The 67-year-old faces more charges in Los Angeles, but no date has been set for the case to begin.