By Mark Grey
12:13pm PDT, Apr 25, 2024
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In a shocking transfer, Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction has been overturned by the New York Court docket of Appeals on April 25.
The appellate court docket stated the trial decide “unfairly” allowed ladies who weren’t a part of the case to testify in opposition to the disgraced movie producer. Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in jail.
“We reaffirm that no particular person accused of illegality could also be judged on proof of uncharged crimes that serve solely to determine the accused’s propensity for felony habits,” wrote Decide Jenny Rivera within the court docket’s majority opinion. “It’s an abuse of judicial discretion to allow untested allegations of nothing greater than dangerous habits that destroys a defendant’s character however sheds no mild on their credibility as associated to the felony prices lodged in opposition to them.”
Weinstein was one of many first main figures to fall throughout the MeToo motion, having been accused of sexual assault or rape by greater than 80 ladies.
Regardless of the brand new court docket ruling, the film mogul will stay imprisoned as he was additionally convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022. In that case, he was sentenced to 16 years in jail.
Click on via to see how names in leisure and politics are reacting to the information…
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“That is actually exhausting for the survivors. We nonetheless dwell in our reality. And we all know what occurred.” –Ashley Judd by way of The New York Occasions
Ashley was the primary actress to go on the report about Harvey Weinstein’s habits.
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“Horrified! Day after #DenimDay honoring sexual violence survivors, Harvey Weinstein’s conviction overturned, due partly to molyneux witnesses testifying to prior dangerous acts, like lioness Annabella Sciorra. Since when do not courts permit proof of sample of prior dangerous acts to be admitted? He is a prolific serial predator who raped/harmed 200+ladies! Disgusted w/justice system skew [toward] predators not victims” –Mira Sorvino
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“On the top of the #MeToo campaign’s unchecked energy, a N.Y. Court docket convicted depressing Harvey Weinstein by attacking his wretched character. However the decide went too far. He allowed ladies who by no means complained to authorities to offer their damaging tales about Weinstein principally with out Weinstein ever having an opportunity to defend himself in opposition to them for concern of additional incrimination. After listening to arguments made by Weinstein’s ace lawyer #ArthurAidala, as many predicted, New York’s highest court docket overturned the judgment of the decrease courts. The decide had gone too far. Weinstein will not be but a free man. He nonetheless faces a 2022 California conviction, which incorporates a number of the identical vulnerability because the N.Y. case now overthrown in an accurate 4-3 ruling.” —Geraldo Rivera
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“In case you are a serial assassin, prior acts outline your crime. In case you are a serial rapist, prior acts outline your crime. Harvey Weinstein is a serial rapist. He’s at present rotting in an LA jail for the crime of rape. 16 years. PRIOR ACTS??? There are a whole lot.” —Ellen Barkin
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“The New York Court docket of Appeals on Thursday overturned the intercourse crimes conviction in opposition to Harvey Weinstein, the highly effective Hollywood producer whose downfall stood as an emblem of the #MeToo motion. However Weinstein continues to be in jail for different crimes.” —Gretchen Carlson
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“We’re cautiously excited. He nonetheless has a protracted highway forward of him due to the Los Angeles case. We’re finding out the ramifications of the attraction proper now.” —Harvey Weinstein spokesperson Juda Engelmayer, by way of Deadline
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“They’re greedy at straws to get Donald Trump in jail, and but, Harvey Weinstein — convicted rapist, predator, the monster behind #MeToo — simply had his rape conviction overturned? Lawfare.” —Rep. Nancy Mace
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“Is not it nice — Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction will get tossed by the New York State Courts of Appeals whereas they preserve Trump locked in a courtroom over nonsense!!!” —Jeanine Pirro