Judge ups Weinstein bail to $5M, citing ankle monitor infractions

A New York judge raised embattled movie mogul Harvey Weinstein’s bail on Wednesday, citing infractions concerning Weinstein’s electronic ankle monitor.

Judge James Burke raised the former film executive’s bail from $1 million to $5 million, but rejected the prosecution’s calls to put Weinstein in jail over the bail violations.

At the hearing, prosecutor Joan Illuzzi said that Weinstein purposely left a piece of the device that keeps the ankle bracelet activated at home, repeatedly.

Weinstein’s lawyer Donna Rotunno admitted he had left a piece of the bracelet at home at least once, but asserted that the majority of the other instances were due to “technical glitches” such as dead batteries. 

The 67-year-old appeared in court Wednesday using a walker, which Rotunno said was due to back pain and that he would be undergoing surgery Thursday to address it.

However, Burke warned Weinstein that any further complications or issues could result in the judge revoking Weinstein’s bail and issuing a warrant for his arrest.

“If you have any further medical issues, the court will not be terribly understanding,” Burke said, according to The Associated Press.

Rotunno also said that Weinstein is “looking forward” to his court case that will begin Jan. 6.

The bail needs were met as Weinstein chose to pay $2 million in an insurance company bond, but the $1 million that he has already paid counts towards the $2 million requirement. The AP reported that due to recent changes in the New York bail rules, this option was available. 

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to charges that he raped a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and engaged a different woman in a forcible sex act in 2006. Weinstein has repeatedly said that all sexual acts were consensual.