Weinstein Seeks to Overturn Conviction, Claims Jurors Were Bullied into Guilty Verdict

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Harvey Weinstein, 73, is back in court Thursday, seeking to have his latest sex crime conviction thrown out. He claims that jurors were subjected to verbal aggression and intimidation, leading them to convict him despite his innocence. This development marks the latest twist in Weinstein's long and complex journey through the justice system. Weinstein's case has been ongoing for seven years, spanning two states, multiple trials, and a reversal. He was convicted of forcing oral sex on one woman, acquitted of a similar charge against another, and a third woman's rape charge was left undecided by the jury. Prosecutors have vowed to retry the rape charge. Weinstein denies all the charges, which were part of a wave of sexual harassment and assault allegations against him that emerged in 2017. His lawyers argue that the women involved willingly accepted his advances in hopes of advancing their careers, only to later falsely accuse him of misconduct. During deliberations, multiple jurors expressed concerns about the tense atmosphere, with one complaining that others were 'shunning' a fellow juror. The foreperson also reported feeling pressured to change his mind and feared for his safety after a fellow panelist made a threatening comment. Two jurors have since come forward, stating that they didn't believe Weinstein was guilty, but felt coerced into convicting him due to the aggressive behavior of other jurors. Weinstein's lawyers are seeking to have the conviction overturned or, at the very least, a hearing to investigate the allegations of jury misconduct. Prosecutors maintain that the judge handled the situation appropriately, despite claims of 'scattered instances of contentious interactions.' The judge is expected to respond Thursday, with options including setting aside the conviction, ordering a hearing, or allowing the verdict to stand. Whatever the outcome, it's likely to be appealed. In the meantime, prosecutors are prepared to retry Weinstein on the rape charge that the jury couldn't decide last spring. He is currently being held in New York and is also appealing a rape conviction in Los Angeles.