Harvey Weinstein attorneys argue to have sexual assault conviction thrown out

Harvey Weinstein argued the outcome of his trial was tainted by the judge's decision to include a woman on the jury who was writing a book about sexual harassment.

A five-judge panel of a New York appellate court seemed skeptical of one argument and open to another Wednesday as an attorney for Harvey Weinstein argued his sexual assault conviction should be thrown out.

Weinstein argued the outcome of his trial was tainted by the judge's decision to include a woman who was writing a book about sexual harassment on the jury.

"She misled the court, she obfuscated, which is a nice way of saying she lied to the court, and she had an economic reason for wanting to get on this case," Weinstein's attorney, Barry Kamins, said during oral argument before the New York State Appellate Division, First Department.

"Isn't a judge allowed to say, 'Well I believe the witness?'" one of the judges asked.