New York appeal court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
- Ruling by state Court of Appeals that has ordered a new trial reopens painful chapter in the US’ reckoning with sexual misconduct by powerful figures
- The reversal is the second major #MeToo setback in the last two years, after Bill Cosby’s conviction was overturned
The state Court of Appeals ruling reopens a painful chapter in America’s reckoning with sexual misconduct by powerful figures – an era that began in 2017 with a flood of allegations against Weinstein.
The court ordered a new trial. His accusers could again be forced to relive their traumas on the witness box.
Weinstein, 72, has been serving a 23-year sentence in a New York prison following his conviction on charges of criminal sex act for forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and rape in the third degree for an attack on an aspiring actress in 2013.
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Weinstein’s lawyers argued Judge James Burke’s rulings in favour of the prosecution turned the trial into “1-800-GET-HARVEY”.
The reversal of Weinstein’s conviction is the second major #MeToo setback in the last two years, after the US Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of a Pennsylvania court decision to throw out Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction.
Weinstein’s conviction stood for more than four years, heralded by activists and advocates as a milestone achievement, but dissected just as quickly by his lawyers and, later, the Court of Appeals when it heard arguments on the matter in February.
