New York Panel Rejects Weinstein's Request

Harvey Weinstein has lost a longshot bid to move his sexual assault trial out of New York City, the AP reports. A state appellate panel rejected the request Thursday. It dismissed the movie mogul’s concerns he wouldn’t get a fair trial in the world’s media capital. The five-judge panel issued the decision after reading submissions from Weinstein’s lawyers and prosecutors. The panel didn’t give a reason for the decision. Weinstein is due to stand trial in Manhattan in January on charges he raped a woman in 2013 and performed a forcible sex act on a different woman in 2006. The 67-year-old producer has pleaded not guilty and is free on $1 million bail. He maintains any sexual activity was consensual. Weinstein’s lawyers didn’t immediately comment on Thursday’s ruling. Prosecutors declined comment. (More Harvey Weinstein stories.)