Opinion
25 Apr 24

New York court overturns 2020 Harvey Weinstein rape conviction

The disgraced film producer has been serving a 23-year prison sentence after being convicted of sexually assaulting a former production assistant in 2006 and raping an aspiring actress in 2013.

Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction has been overturned by a New York appeals court today, reopening the landmark trial that was regarded as one of the biggest successes of the #MeToo movement.

In a 4-3 decision, the New York court has ruled that the judge who oversaw the original 2020 trial was mistaken in allowing women whose accusations were not a part of the case to testify.

The decision reads: “[Weinstein] was convicted by a jury for various sexual crimes against three named complainants and, on appeal, claims that he was judged, not on the conduct for which he was indicted, but on irrelevant, prejudicial, and untested allegations of prior bad acts.”

In a striking dissenting judgement, Judge Madeline Singas said the decision "perpetuates outdated notions of sexual violence and allows predators to escape accountability,” and accusing the majority of appeal judges of "whitewashing the facts" and continuing a "disturbing trend" of overturning jury verdicts in sexual violence cases.

A court has overturned Weinstein’s rape conviction, ordering a new trial in #MeToo case. Every survivor who relived their trauma and gave evidence in court, will probably have to do it ALL over again. When victims say the ‘justice system’ re-traumatises them, this is what they… pic.twitter.com/Dl5ibOWnyz

— Dr Charlotte Proudman (@DrProudman) April 25, 2024

This isn't the first high-profile celebrity sexual assault conviction that has been overturned, as former comedian Bill Cosby saw his 2018 jury verdict overturned three years later by Pennsylvania's highest court.

The ex-Hollywood producer will however remain imprisoned as he is serving a separate 16 year prison sentence, having been convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 for another rape.

Douglas Wigdor, a lawyer who represented eight of Weinstein's accusers said: "Today's decision is a major step back in holding those accountable for acts of sexual violence. It will require the victims to endure yet another trial."