As the dust settles on the seismic overturning of Harvey Weinstein‘s New York conviction, all eyes turn to the West Coast, where the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office stands resolute in its confidence that Weinstein’s conviction in California will withstand any legal onslaught.
According to TMZ, in the wake of the New York appeals court’s decision to toss out Weinstein’s guilty verdict, speculation has run rampant regarding the fate of his L.A. conviction. However, prosecutors in California remain steadfast, asserting that their case against the disgraced movie mogul was firmly grounded in state law.
According to representatives for the D.A.’s office, California law permits the introduction of “propensity evidence” in sexual assault cases, subject to the discretion of the presiding judge. In Weinstein’s case, evidence of his sexual assaults in other jurisdictions was utilized to bolster the prosecution’s argument, a tactic deemed entirely legal by California authorities.
Despite the setback in New York, the L.A. District Attorney’s Office expresses unwavering confidence in the validity of Weinstein’s conviction, for which he was sentenced to 16 years behind bars. District Attorney George Gascón himself has gone on record affirming his belief in the conviction’s integrity, assuring the public that justice will prevail.
However, the New York appeal verdict has undoubtedly cast a long shadow of doubt over Weinstein’s legal battles. The appeals court’s scathing critique of the trial proceedings, which concluded that Weinstein was effectively tried for past behavior rather than the specific crimes he was charged with, has raised significant concerns.
While the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has announced its intention to retry Weinstein in light of the New York appeal decision, his defense attorney Jennifer Bonjean remains undeterred. Bonjean, speaking on TMZ Live, asserts that the outcome of the New York appeal should not influence the ongoing legal proceedings in Los Angeles, where she continues to fight for Weinstein’s appeal.
As Weinstein’s legal saga unfolds on both coasts, one thing is abundantly clear: the battle for justice is far from over, and the road ahead promises to further expose the multitudinous gaps in the legal system that makes justice elusive for victim-survivors.
