New York’s highest court has overturned Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 conviction for rape and sexual assault, highlighting the challenges of holding powerful men to account.
On Thursday, the Court of Appeals found the landmark trial was unfair because the judge had allowed the women whose accusations were not the part of the charges Weinstein faced to give evidence in court.
Judge Jenny Rivera called for a new trial following the 4-3 decision.
However, the 72-year-old will remain behind the bars, as the ruling does not affect a separate 16- year rape sentence, which was handed down to him in California.
Bombshell allegations against the Oscar winning producer surfaced on the internet in 2017 and led to flood of allegations against other powerful men as women fought back against sexual violence in what came to be known as #MeToo movement.
Three years later, a New York court found Weinstein guilty of sexual assault against his former production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006, and rape against aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013.
He was jailed for 23 years in a case that was considered a landmark for the #MeToo movement.
Following his conviction, a civil trial had awarded $17 million to dozens of other women who had accused him of abuse.
