Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said: “Today, defendant Harvey Weinstein was formally arraigned on a governor’s warrant issued by Governor Kathy Hochul, who exercised her authority for him to remain in New York State until his case in New York County is adjudicated. The defendant – who was convicted in California of forcible rape and other crimes – will be returned to the state of California after his case in New York County is completed.  He will serve the California sentence first, as it is now his primary sentence. We thank the extradition staffs of Governor Hochul and California Governor Gavin Newsom, as well as our partners in the New York County District Attorney’s Office, the California Attorney General’s Office and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, for their assistance in this matter.”

Background for reporters — As an administrative function, the Queens District Attorney’s Office handles all re-arrests from Rikers Island on fugitive matters because the Queens Warrant Squad and the Joint Fugitive Task Force, which are based in the 107^th Precinct in Fresh Meadows, process those rearrests.