Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges
- Jury deliberations in Harvey Weinstein's retrial are continuing amid reports of internal juror conflict.
- The panel has received two notes, indicating potential stress in the deliberation process.
- Weinstein's plea of not guilty reflects ongoing disputes around the legal interpretations of sexual assault.
In New York, jury deliberations regarding Harvey Weinstein’s sex crimes retrial are currently underway. This follows a verdict in 2020 that convicted Weinstein on charges of rape and sexual assault, which was later overturned due to improperly admitted testimony. During his current retrial, which involves fresh allegations including those from a 2013 incident, Weinstein, aged 73, is facing serious accusations and has maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, began deliberations but experienced difficulties, such as a juror expressing concerns about fairness within the deliberation process and requesting clarification on the rules of deliberation and hung jury protocol from the judge, Curtis Farber. Despite these challenges, the judge has not indicated any signs of a hung jury as of the latest updates. This retrial, amidst the #MeToo movement, illustrates ongoing societal scrutiny of predatory behavior and includes accusations that have emerged over two decades. If found guilty of the current charges, Weinstein could face up to 25 years in prison.