NEW YORK — Harvey Weinstein returned to court on Thursday, seeking to overturn his latest sex crime conviction due to claims of jury misconduct and tensions during deliberations last spring.
Weinstein's controversial case, emblematic of the #MeToo movement, has seen numerous legal twists over the past seven years, including trials across two states. Last June, the jury delivered a split verdict where Weinstein was found guilty of one charge and acquitted on another, with uncertainty lingering over a rape charge involving a third victim.
In court, Weinstein's lawyers contended that jurors were influenced by behind-the-scenes altercations and a toxic deliberation atmosphere. One juror expressed feelings of intimidation, stating that aggressive exchanges had occurred, prompting fears for personal safety.
Witness statements from jurors indicate that some felt pressured into agreement and eventually compromised their judgments out of fear of backlash from their peers.
In response to these allegations, prosecutors maintain that the trial judge handled the situation appropriately, acknowledging that tensions existed but arguing they did not obstruct justice.
The judge is set to determine whether to dismiss the conviction or hold a hearing on the matter, with further appeals likely depending on his decision.
As Weinstein continues to fight this conviction, he also faces a retrial regarding a previously undecided rape charge while appealing another conviction from a separate case in Los Angeles.
