NEW YORK — In a dramatic turn of events, Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction was overturned Thursday by the state Court of Appeals in New York, setting the stage for a potential retrial in one of the most prominent cases of the #MeToo era.
The court ruled that the judge in the landmark trial prejudiced Weinstein, the disgraced former film mogul, with improper rulings, notably by allowing testimony about allegations that were not part of the case.
“We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes because that testimony served no material non-propensity purpose,” the court stated in a narrow 4-3 decision.
The decision highlighted the court’s concern over the prejudicial nature of allowing such testimony, particularly against a defendant with no prior criminal history. Judge Jenny Rivera described the errors as “egregious” and emphasized that the remedy is a new trial.
Weinstein, who has been serving a 23-year sentence since his conviction, may now face the prospect of another trial, where his accusers could be called upon to testify once again if prosecutors opt to pursue the case.
The overturning of Weinstein’s conviction marks a significant development in a legal saga that has served as a focal point in the global #MeToo movement.