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Weinstein Back in Court as Jurors Winnowed for Rape Trial

Associated Press

   NEW YORK - Jury selection resumed Monday at the trial of Hollywood
   mogul Harvey Weinstein, who has pleaded not guilty to charges he raped
   a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and sexually assaulted
   another in 2006.

   The initial screening process, now on its fifth day, has been stymied
   by a host of challenges and distractions, including repeatedly denied
   requests from the defense and a noisy protest outside the courthouse.

   Both sides hope to deliver opening statements before the end of this
   month.

   If convicted at a trial expected to last into March, the 67-year-old
   could face life in prison.

   The former studio boss behind such Oscar winners as I and "Shakespeare
   in Love" has said any sexual activity was consensual.

   About 120 prospective jurors are being summoned to court each day. Last
   Tuesday, they were introduced as a group to Weinstein and were read a
   list of names that could come up at trial, including actresses Salma
   Hayek, Charlize Theron and Rosie Perez.

   As his New York trial was getting underway a week ago, Los Angeles
   prosecutors announced new charges in a separate case against Weinstein.
   Those charges accuse him of raping one woman and sexually assaulting
   another woman there on back-to-back nights in 2013, days before he
   walked the Oscars with his then-wife, fashion designer Georgina
   Chapman, who was pregnant at the time.

   Weinstein has not entered a plea in the Los Angeles case, which will be
   tried later.

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