Medical expert discusses erectile dysfunction injection during Harvey Weinstein’s sex assault retrial in New York City.
In a notable development in the ongoing retrial of Harvey Weinstein, the defense team sought to challenge one of the rape allegations made against the former movie mogul with the testimony of a medical expert. On Wednesday, Dr. Matthew Lee, a Virginia-based physician and pharmacist, provided insights into the effects and administration of a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction known as Caverject.
Dr. Lee informed jurors that the treatment requires a specific procedure, which includes mixing the medication by hand and directly injecting it into the penis. According to his testimony, the onset of the drug’s effects generally occurs within five to twenty minutes after administration, with an average time frame of approximately ten to fifteen minutes. This information came to light as jurors were hearing the accusations of Weinstein’s former associate, Jessica Mann. Mann has alleged that Weinstein raped her shortly after they checked into a DoubleTree Hotel room in Midtown Manhattan on March 18, 2013.
During her testimony, Mann stated that she discovered a syringe in the bathroom garbage, leading her to investigate the medication, which she claimed was associated with restoring erectile function. The defense utilized Dr. Lee’s expertise in an effort to introduce reasonable doubt regarding the timing and conditions of the alleged incident.
The examination of Dr. Lee was initiated after prosecutors concluded their case, marking the halfway point of the trial, which has spanned over six weeks. Defense attorney Arthur Aidala focused on the specifics of the medication’s preparation and effect duration during his questioning. However, the prosecution’s response came swiftly, with Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg vigorously cross-examining Dr. Lee, questioning his qualifications and the relevance of his expertise to the particular case at hand. Blumberg highlighted that although Dr. Lee has experience in various medical fields, he has not specifically been retained as an expert on erectile dysfunction.
The trial is centering on allegations from three women—Mann, former television production assistant Miriam Haley, and Polish model Kaja Sokola—all of whom have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct. Notably, Mann and Haley previously testified against Weinstein in a 2020 trial, which concluded with a guilty verdict and a sentence of 23 years in prison. However, that conviction was overturned by the state’s highest court last year, raising complex legal issues surrounding Weinstein’s prosecution.
As the retrial progresses, the courtroom drama continues to unfold, encompassing medical insights while highlighting the challenges faced by both the defense and prosecution in substantiating their respective cases. As Weinstein’s legal struggles persist, they reflect broader societal concerns regarding sexual misconduct and accountability in the entertainment industry.
