Harvey Weinstein's LA conviction 'solid' says District Attorney as NYC verdict overturned

Harvey Weinstein's Los Angeles conviction remains 'solid', insists the District Attorney, despite the New York case being overturned.

Following the shock reversal of Harvey Weinstein's New York conviction on Thursday, there's a palpable sense of unease about the implications for his Los Angeles sentence.

The fallen film mogul was found guilty in 2020 of a criminal sex act for forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006, and third-degree rape of an aspiring actress in 2013.

However, an appellate court ruled that the trial was tainted by prejudice as testimony from women about uncharged allegations was permitted.

Despite this setback, Weinstein's 2022 Los Angeles conviction for rape, which carries a 16-year prison term, means he's far from walking free.

Read more: Harvey Weinstein's net worth as #MeToo trial rape conviction overturned

Yet, the New York verdict's overturn has sparked concern among activists over the stability of the Los Angeles conviction.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's office has assured TMZ that their prosecution was firmly within the bounds of state law.

A spokesperson from the office explained to the media outlet that California law accepts "propensity evidence" in sexual assault trials.

This legal stance allows for the inclusion of sexual assault evidence from different jurisdictions, making it entirely lawful.

Despite disappointment over Weinstein's successful appeal in New York at age 72, the District Attorney is confident that the California verdict will stand firm.

Jennifer Bonjean, Weinstein's defense lawyer, is working on appealing the California ruling. Meanwhile, New York's District Attorney in Manhattan is planning on retrying Weinstein.

In the court's 4-3 decision on Thursday, the court stated: "We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes.

"The remedy for these egregious errors is a new trial.

"It is an abuse of judicial discretion to permit untested allegations of nothing more than bad behavior that destroys a defendant's character but sheds no light on their credibility as related to the criminal charges lodged against them," the court adds.

Weinstein is incarcerated in New York at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 100 miles (about 160 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Albany.

He maintains his innocence and claims any sexual activity was consensual.

An AI tool was used to bring an extra layer to this story.