Highest NY court agrees to hear Weinstein rape conviction appeal

Court of Appeals says first arguments in appeal of 23-year prison sentence will likely be held sometime next year

By AP 25 August 2022, 9:25 am Edit

Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan court as jury deliberations continue in his rape trial, on February 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

NEW YORK — New York’s highest court has agreed to hear an appeal from Harvey Weinstein over his 2020 rape conviction.

A spokesman for the Court of Appeals said Wednesday that oral arguments would likely be held sometime next year, after the decision to hear the case was granted August 19.

Weinstein was convicted in February 2020 in New York of forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and raping an aspiring actress in 2013. The 70-year-old was sentenced to 23 years in prison and is currently in custody in California awaiting trial on other assault charges.

In June, an intermediate-level appeals court in New York upheld the conviction, rejecting the former movie mogul’s claim that the trial judge unfairly let in testimony about accusations outside of the case.

Weinstein’s publicist, Juda Engelmayer, said, “We are hopeful and grateful for this rare opportunity.”

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office declined to comment.