Benjamin Brafman calms his client (and employee?) Harvey Weinstein Image by Getty Images

In a statement so nonsensical it almost works as a palindrome, on Monday morning Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer Benjamin Brafman told reporters at Weinstein’s arraignment that Weinstein is working as a paralegal for Brafman.

Steven Zeitchik, a reporter for the Washington Post who is on the scene in the courtroom and has been live-tweeting the scene at the courtroom reported: “Truly bizarre claim from Weinstein lawyer Ben Brafman outside the court: Harvey, he says, is currently working as a paralegal — to him.”

Truly bizarre claim from Weinstein lawyer Ben Brafman outside the court: Harvey, he says, is currently working as a paralegal—to him

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis of the crisis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

— Steven Zeitchik (@ZeitchikWaPo) July 9, 2018

This really is a wild statement — the 66-year-old movie mogul who has been accused of sexual misconduct by over 80 women seems like an unlikely candidate for a paralegal. Weinstein appeared in court early Monday morning to plead not guilty to sexually assaulting a woman in 2006. This is Weinstein’s third arraignment following two in June, which included rape charges and a charge of a first-degree criminal sexual act. For now, Weinstein is out on $1 million bail. A request that he be put under house arrest was denied by the judge.

Zeitechik reports that Brafman also claims that Weinstein is “trying to pursue other [movie] projects.” Brafman, he says, shook hands with lawyer Gloria Allred in the courtroom.

No, you’re not imagining it — the greatest movie makers could not have envisioned stranger things.

Jenny Singer is the deputy lifestyle editor for the Forward. You can reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @jeanvaljenny

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount