NycourtsApr 24
Harvey Weinstein Rape Conviction Overturned
The Facts
In a 4-3 decision, the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, voted to overturn Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction.
Weinstein was convicted of and sentenced to 23 years in prison for sexual assaults in 2006 and 2013. However, the court ruled his trial wrongly allowed witnesses to make accusations against him that didn't relate to the case.
The Spin
Narrative A
Under the protection of the US Constitution, every American criminal defendant has the right to face only the specific charges laid against them in a particular trial. It is unfair, therefore, to include unrelated accusations of prior misbehavior. Due to these inadmissible testimonies included in the trial, Weinstein's right to testify under fair questioning was also violated.
Narrative B
While the court's majority has laid out some reasonable legal claims, this ruling is a serious setback in the fight to protect women from dangerous sexual predators. Sex crimes are well known to be far more complex than other crimes, and it appears the court doesn't understand the nuanced nature of Harvey Weinstein's trial. This is a sad day for those who Weinstein victimized.