NEW YORK — Harvey Weinstein returned to court on Thursday, aiming to have his recent sex crime conviction dismissed due to rising anger and apprehensions experienced by jurors during their deliberations last spring.
In what has become a convoluted legal saga stretching over seven years, the former Hollywood executive is appealing against a verdict that included a conviction of forcing oral sex on one woman and an acquittal on another, with a third charge of rape still unresolved.
The 73-year-old, who vigorously denies all allegations against him, is one of the most prominent figures caught up in the #MeToo movement, facing numerous claims of sexual misconduct that emerged publicly in 2017.
During the trial, Weinstein's attorneys contended that the women involved in the case had willingly accepted his advances in hopes of advancing their careers, only to later falsely accuse him, which resulted in significant media attention and settlement offers.
The jury's split verdict last June was unusual, particularly given that multiple jurors expressed concerns to the judge about the atmosphere of tension in the jury room. Reports surfaced of jurors being verbally aggressive towards each other and discussing Weinstein's past inappropriately.
In their testimonies post-trial, jurors highlighted how they felt intimidated and pressured, with one even indicating they had communicated fears for their safety amidst the deliberation discussions.
Weinstein’s legal team claims the juror tensions compromised the fairness of the trial, arguing that Judge Curtis Farber did not adequately address the jurors' complaints about their deliberation environment.
Prosecutors, however, maintain that the judge responded appropriately to the discord among jurors. They argue that the subsequential statements made by jurors were contradicted by earlier comments made to the media collectively describing the deliberation environment as stressful rather than threatening.
As the judge is expected to make a decision soon, whether to uphold the original conviction or allow a retrial, legal analysts suggest that whichever ruling comes could lead to further appeals. Meanwhile, prosecutors are prepared to retry Weinstein for the unresolved rape charge linked to the previous proceedings.
