Harvey Weinstein’s Attorney Appeals His Rape Conviction After Raising Questions About a Juror
Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein appealed his rape conviction Monday, arguing he was made a “media villain” and tried in a “highly volatile and prejudicial atmosphere” that failed to safeguard his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury.
Weinstein, once a powerful figure in Hollywood, was convicted last year of rape and sexual assault and sentenced to 23 years in prison.
In the appeal, defense attorneys said Weinstein’s trial was tainted by a juror who had published a book about the predations of older men against younger women.
“Although the defense raised legitimate questions about whether Juror No. 11 was fit to serve, the trial court failed to discharge its constitutional obligation to conduct a full inquiry to ensure that the juror was capable of rendering a fair and impartial verdict,” the defense wrote.
