By Kanishka Singh and Rami Ayyub

(Reuters) – A New York appeals court docket on Thursday upheld Harvey Weinstein’s rape and sexual assault conviction, rejecting the disgraced film producer’s arguments that the trial decide made a number of errors that tainted the trial.

Weinstein was interesting his February 2020 conviction and 23-year jail sentence for assaulting former manufacturing assistant Mimi Haleyi and raping former aspiring actress Jessica Mann.

“We reject (the) defendant’s arguments, and affirm the conviction in all respects,” a unanimous five-judge panel of the Appellate Division in Manhattan stated, discovering no errors that may warrant overturning Weinstein’s conviction or sentence.

Juda Engelmayer, a spokesman for Weinstein, stated Weinstein will enchantment the choice to New York state’s highest court docket, the Court docket of Appeals. “We’re disillusioned and unhappy for Mr. Weinstein,” Engelmayer stated.

The decision was thought-about a landmark within the #MeToo motion the place ladies got here ahead to accuse dozens of highly effective males of sexual misconduct. Many view the accusations in opposition to Weinstein, which surfaced in 2017, the important thing spark for that motion.

Weinstein, 70, has denied any non-consensual sexual encounters.

He made seven arguments for overturning his conviction, together with that rape expenses had been primarily based on inadequate proof.

Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg, whose predecessor Cyrus Vance first criminally charged Weinstein, welcomed Thursday’s determination, and stated he was “grateful to the courageous survivors on this case for his or her outstanding braveness and candor.”

Weinstein is jailed in California, the place he was extradited final yr and awaits trial on 11 expenses of alleged misconduct towards 5 ladies in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles between 2004 and 2013.

Weinstein had pleaded not responsible to rape and sexual assault expenses in Los Angeles. His legal professionals there have argued that among the expenses must be thrown out as a result of the statute of limitations had expired.