Weinstein Retains Defense Team Behind Mangione and Combs for Third Trial
New York, Friday, 27 February 2026.
Weinstein pivots strategy by retaining the high-profile legal team currently defending Luigi Mangione and Sean “Diddy” Combs ahead of his third New York sexual assault trial.
High-Profile Legal Overhaul
In a decisive move to reshape his defense strategy, Harvey Weinstein has retained the legal trio of Jacob Kaplan, Marc Agnifilo, and Teny Geragos for his upcoming third sexual assault trial in New York [1][2]. The appointment, confirmed in court papers filed on February 24, 2026, replaces Weinstein’s previous lead counsel, Arthur Aidala, just days before proceedings are set to resume [1][4]. This shift aligns Weinstein with some of the most prominent criminal defense attorneys currently operating in the United States; the team is simultaneously representing Luigi Mangione in his high-stakes state and federal murder cases regarding the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson [2]. Additionally, Agnifilo and Geragos recently represented Sean “Diddy” Combs, securing acquittals on sex trafficking and racketeering charges, a track record likely appealing to Weinstein as he faces a recalcitrant legal battle [2].
A Strategic Recalibration
The transition marks a distinct pivot in legal tactics following a tumultuous five-year period for the 73-year-old former producer, who remains incarcerated at Rikers Island [4]. Weinstein’s spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, framed the hiring as a necessary evolution, stating that a “recalibrated outlook and strategic approach offers the most effective path forward” after two prior trials on the matter [1][2]. While the new team from Agnifilo Intrater takes over the trial defense, Arthur Aidala’s firm, Aidala Bertuna & Kamins, will not exit Weinstein’s orbit entirely; they retain the mandate to handle civil matters and the appeal of his June 2025 conviction involving Miriam Haley [2][3]. Aidala characterized the split as amicable, noting that Weinstein “accurately sensed my lack of passion to try this low level case a third time,” referencing the single remaining unresolved charge [4].
The Path to a Third Trial
This legal restructuring occurs against a complex procedural backdrop. Weinstein’s original 2020 conviction was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals in April 2024, necessitating a retrial [3]. That retrial, concluded in 2025, delivered a split verdict: Weinstein was convicted of a criminal sex act against Miriam Haley and acquitted of charges involving Kaja Sokola, but the jury deadlocked on the rape charge involving Jessica Mann [1][4]. It is this undecided charge, stemming from a 2013 allegation at a Manhattan hotel, that prosecutors are pursuing in the third trial [1][4]. Weinstein faces a maximum sentence of four years for this specific charge, independent of the 25-year sentence he faces for the Haley conviction and the 16-year sentence handed down in California [1].
Scheduling Conflicts and Future Proceedings
The immediate timeline for the trial presents logistical challenges given the defense team’s concurrent commitments. Weinstein is scheduled to appear for a status conference on March 4, 2026, where the new counsel will formally begin their duties [1][2]. However, the court must navigate the scheduling of the Luigi Mangione trial, which is set to commence on June 8, 2026 [1]. Prosecutors have estimated that Weinstein’s third trial could last up to five weeks, potentially creating friction with the defense team’s obligation to the Mangione case [1]. Despite the mounting legal pressure and his claims of deteriorating health—citing multiple hospitalizations at Bellevue—Weinstein maintains his innocence, stating in a January hearing that he “never assaulted anyone” [4].