Harvey Weinstein Granted Appeal in New York State Court

thewrap.com:

Court of Appeals announced Wednesday.Weinstein was convicted in 2020 of rape and sexual assault, and a lower court upheld that conviction in June.

The Court of Appeals has granted Weinsten’s application, and the ruling on Wednesday from New York State of Appeals Chief Judge Janet DiFiore will clear the way for oral arguments to begin next year before the entire court, a court spokesman told NBC News.“I’m hopeful that this is the opportunity to finally prove my innocence,” Weinstein said in a Wednesday statement to The New York Post.Weinstein is currently serving a 23-year sentence for the 2020 conviction.

He had been charged with two counts, including committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree and third-degree rape.Weinstein’s prior appeal argued it was improper for prosecutors to introduce “Molineux evidence,” or evidence of prior bad acts that were never charged as crimes.

His attorney argued that the parade of prior incidents not directly related to the charges undermined Weinstein’s ability to testify on his own behalf, which he has so far chosen not to do.A representative for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office did not immediately return TheWrap’s request for comment.