NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Weinstein returns to court on Thursday, seeking to get his latest sex crime conviction thrown out due to alleged anger and apprehensions that flared among jurors during deliberations last spring. This latest development marks another complex turn in the former Hollywood mogul's prolonged encounter with the criminal justice system. His high-profile case, which has evolved since the onset of the #MeToo movement, has spanned seven years and includes trials in two states.
In the previous New York trial, Weinstein was convicted for forcing oral sex on one woman but acquitted of a similar charge against another. The jury could not reach a decision on a rape charge related to a third woman, which prosecutors aim to retry. Weinstein, 73, continues to deny all accusations against him, which first emerged publicly in 2017, triggering a wave of scrutiny on sexual misconduct across industries.
During the last trial, Weinstein's defense claimed that the women involved had accepted his advances with expectations of career opportunities before later making false accusations for attention and financial gain.
Jurors reported considerable tension, with one individual expressing concerns about being ‘shunned,’ while others relayed feelings of hostility during discussions about the case. The juror claimed that pressure to conform to majority opinions turned their deliberation into an uncomfortable experience, prompting a refusal to continue amid fears for their safety.
Weinstein's legal team argues that these juror dynamics amount to threats that compromised the fairness of the trial, calling for either dismissal of the conviction or an inquiry into the jurors' experiences. Meanwhile, prosecutors counter that the trial was conducted fairly and the judge acted appropriately in response to the claims of contention among jurors.
The judge is expected to issue a ruling soon, which could either lead to further proceedings or maintain the original conviction. As the situation unfolds, prosecutors stand ready to retry Weinstein on the unresolved rape charges.
In the previous New York trial, Weinstein was convicted for forcing oral sex on one woman but acquitted of a similar charge against another. The jury could not reach a decision on a rape charge related to a third woman, which prosecutors aim to retry. Weinstein, 73, continues to deny all accusations against him, which first emerged publicly in 2017, triggering a wave of scrutiny on sexual misconduct across industries.
During the last trial, Weinstein's defense claimed that the women involved had accepted his advances with expectations of career opportunities before later making false accusations for attention and financial gain.
Jurors reported considerable tension, with one individual expressing concerns about being ‘shunned,’ while others relayed feelings of hostility during discussions about the case. The juror claimed that pressure to conform to majority opinions turned their deliberation into an uncomfortable experience, prompting a refusal to continue amid fears for their safety.
Weinstein's legal team argues that these juror dynamics amount to threats that compromised the fairness of the trial, calling for either dismissal of the conviction or an inquiry into the jurors' experiences. Meanwhile, prosecutors counter that the trial was conducted fairly and the judge acted appropriately in response to the claims of contention among jurors.
The judge is expected to issue a ruling soon, which could either lead to further proceedings or maintain the original conviction. As the situation unfolds, prosecutors stand ready to retry Weinstein on the unresolved rape charges.
