A New York appeals court overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction Thursday, ordering a new trial in a stunning reversal of a landmark #MeToo case.
In a 4-3 decision, the appeals court found that Weinstein’s trial judge allowed prosecutors to call women who said Weinstein had assaulted them to testify, even though their accusations did not specifically relate to the entertainment mogul’s charges.
Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison after being convicted in February 2020 of forcing oral sex on TV and film production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006 and third-degree rape of hairstylist Jessica Mann in 2013.
He was acquitted of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault from actor Annabella Sciorra’s allegations of rape in the 1990s. He has denied ever engaging in non-consensual sex.
“Justice was served. I believe this decision is larger than Harvey Weinstein,” Donna Rotunno, Weinstein’s defense lawyer, told Fox News in a statement. “Courts cannot operate on emotion and lack of due process. The world is off-balance, and when the justice system does not work, nothing does. This decision restores faith in the foundation of our system.”
Ashley Judd, the first actress to come forward with allegations against Weinstein, reacted to the appeal court’s decision during a press conference Thursday.
