Harvey Weinstein’s Rape Conviction Overturned In New York Court

By Samantha Nungesser @samjnungesser
Published April 25, 2024, 11:58 a.m. ET

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Harvey Weinstein‘s 2020 rape conviction has been overturned by the New York Court of Appeals, which claimed the judge in the high-profile #MeToo trial showed prejudice by allowing women to testify about allegations that were not part of the case.

In a 4-3 ruling, the court found that the trial judge “erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes,” per NBC News.

“The court compounded that error when it ruled that defendant, who had no criminal history, could be cross-examined about those allegations as well as numerous allegations of misconduct that portrayed defendant in a highly prejudicial light,” the court said in a statement.

Weinstein — the Oscar-winning producer of Good Will Hunting — was accused of sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape by more than a dozen women in a bombshell New York Times report that was published in 2017. The allegations helped kickstart the viral #MeToo movement, which found people coming forward about their own experiences with sexual misconduct.

A New York court ultimately convicted the Hollywood mogul on one count of criminal sexual assault in the first degree and one count of rape in the third degree — and sentenced him to 23 years in prison in 2020.

Despite the verdict getting overturned, Weinstein will remain behind bars as he was also convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022 and sentenced to an additional 16 years in prison. However, he was acquitted in the Los Angeles trial on charges that involved a woman who testified in his New York case, per Variety.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court, on February 24, 2020 in New York City. - The jury in Harvey Weinstein's rape trial hinted it was struggling to reach agreement on the most serious charge of predatory sexual assault as day four of deliberations ended February 21, 2020 without a verdict. The 12 jurors asked New York state Judge James Burke whether they could be hung on one or both of the top counts but unanimous on the three lesser counts. The disgraced movie mogul, 67, faces life in prison if the jury of seven men and five women convict him of a variety of sexual misconduct charges in New York
Photo: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images

Douglas H. Wigdor, an attorney who has represented some of Weinstein’s accusers, said the court’s decision was a “major step back in holding those accountable for acts of sexual violence,” per Variety. The decision also means the alleged victims might have to take the witness stand again in a new trial.

A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said, “We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.”

If you or someone you know needs to reach out about sexual abuse or assault, RAINN is available 24/7 at 800-656-HOPE (4673), or online at RAINN.org.