Harvey Weinstein's appeal of his 2020 rape conviction to be heard by State of New York Court of Appeals

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Harvey Weinstein was granted permission to take his appeal of his 2020 sex crime conviction to the State of New York Court of Appeals. 

On Wednesday, a spokesman for the Court of Appeals announced New York's highest court agreed on August 19 to hear the 70-year-old disgraced movie mogul's case after the appellate division, a lower court, upheld his conviction in June.

The five-justice appellate panel unanimously ruled against overturning the verdict in which Weinstein was found guilty of rape and sexual assault in New York. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison. 

Harvey Weinstein's appeal of his 2020 rape conviction will be heard by the State of New York Court of Appeals.  (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

During the June appeal hearing, Weinstein's lawyers claimed that the trial judge had unfairly admitted testimony about accusations that were not part of the criminal case.

HARVEY WEINSTEIN'S LOS ANGELES SEX CRIMES TRIAL WON'T INCLUDE DARYL HANNAH, ROSE MCGOWAN

The former Hollywood producer's attorneys also argued that the judge should have excused one of the jurors, who had penned a novel about "predatory older men".

The appellate panel determined that the judge's actions were appropriate and did not warrant a new trial.

A lower court upheld the disgraced movie mogul's conviction in June. (ETIENNE LAURENT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

According to reports, outgoing Chief Judge Janet DiFiore granted Weinstein's leave for appeal, stating there are "questions of law are involved which ought to be reviewed."

HARVEY WEINSTEIN SECRETLY INDICTED ON RAPE CHARGES BY GRAND JURY IN LOS ANGELES 

In a statement obtained by Fox News Digital, Weinstein said, "I am innocent of these charges, and I am so grateful to my attorneys for working hard and smart on this. 

"Their hard work will help me prove my innocence in the end. I look forward to this opportunity to be heard by the New York Court of Appeals."

Weinstein's attorney Arthur Aidala told Fox News Digital, "We are grateful that Chief Judge DiFiore acknowledged the substantial legal issues in this case, and we are hopeful that the entire Court will find that Mr. Weinstein did not receive a fair trial and reverse his conviction.  Mr. Weinstein has consistently maintained his innocence. 

Weinstein’s publicist, Juda Engelmayer, said, "We are hopeful and grateful for this rare opportunity and believe that granting Harvey Weinstein and his lawyers leave to make the appeal to the NY Court of Appeals demonstrates that there is, in fact, merit to the appeal.  

"There was plenty wrong with the trial and conviction and Harvey’s attorneys will do what is needed to prove his innocence of the charges. "

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office declined to comment.

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Weinstein was found guilty of rape and sexual assault and is serving a 23-year prison sentence.  (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

In February 2020, Weinstein was convicted of a criminal sex act for forcibly performing oral sex on TV and film production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006. He was also found guilty of rape in the third degree for assaulting former aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013.

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The convictions marked a watershed moment in the #MeToo movement, which dealt with the exposure of sexual misconduct committed by powerful figures, including Weinstein.

Weinstein is currently jailed in California where he is awaiting trial on other assault charges.

Fox News' Marta Dhanis and The Associated Press contributed to this report.