On Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals overturned the sex crimes conviction of Harvey Weinstein, a prominent figure in Hollywood, and ordered a new trial.
In a close 4-3 decision, the court determined that the inclusion of “prior bad acts” witnesses in the original trial was inappropriate, asserting that their testimonies did not establish Weinstein’s intent but rather suggested a propensity for committing the charged crimes. Weinstein, 72, has consistently denied all accusations of nonconsensual sexual activity.
Following the court’s decision, his spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, expressed cautious optimism, criticizing the original trial as unjust.
Meanwhile, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, committed to supporting survivors of sexual assault, announced plans to retry the case.
Weinstein remains incarcerated at Mohawk Correctional Facility in Rome, New York, and faces a 16-year sentence in Los Angeles for related charges. This ruling rekindles debates over the effectiveness of the #MeToo movement in achieving justice, highlighted by previous appeals like Bill Cosby’s overturned conviction in 2021.
Responses to the appeal’s outcome were mixed. Donna Rotunno, Weinstein’s lead defense attorney, hailed the decision as a restoration of faith in the judicial system, emphasizing the necessity of due process. Conversely, former Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr., who initially charged Weinstein, expressed dismay, voicing support for the survivors who testified. Attorney Douglas H. Wigdor, representing several of Weinstein’s accusers, lamented the decision as a setback for accountability in sexual violence cases, stressing the emotional toll of a new trial on the victims.
