Harvey Weinstein‘s 2020 rape conviction has been overturned by the New York state Court of Appeals on Thursday, paving the way for a new trial. The decision was made on the grounds that the judge in the high-profile #MeToo trial made improper rulings that prejudiced the former film mogul, including allowing women to testify about allegations unrelated to the case.
In a 4-3 decision, the Court of Appeals stated, “We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes because that testimony served no material non-propensity purpose.” The court deemed the errors “egregious” and ordered a new trial, potentially requiring Weinstein’s accusers to testify once more.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office expressed its commitment to retrying the case, emphasizing its dedication to survivors of sexual assault. However, Douglas H. Wigdor, an attorney representing eight Weinstein accusers, criticized the decision, calling it a setback in holding perpetrators of sexual violence accountable. He argued that evidence of uncharged acts is often admitted to assist juries in understanding the defendant’s intent or pattern of behavior.
Weinstein, who is currently serving a 23-year sentence in a New York prison, was convicted in 2020 of criminal sex act and rape. His charges stemmed from incidents dating back to 2006 and 2013, which were brought to light in 2017 through investigative reports by The New York Times and The New Yorker, contributing to the #MeToo Movement.
In a dissenting opinion, Judge Madeline Singas accused the majority of “whitewashing the facts” and failing to recognize the jury’s consideration of Weinstein’s past assaults. Another dissenting judge, Anthony Cannataro, lamented the decision as an “unfortunate step backwards.”
Weinstein, 72, also faced charges in Los Angeles and was convicted in 2022 of rape, receiving a 16-year prison sentence. His spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, acknowledging the upcoming legal challenges in California.