New York’s highest court on Thursday threw out Harvey Weinstein ’s 2020 rape conviction with a ruling that shocked and disappointed women who celebrated historic gains during the #MeToo era and left those who testified in the case bracing for a retrial against the ex-movie mogul.

Albany

Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction was overturned by New York's highest court, leading to widespread reaction. The court's decision has been met with disappointment and shock, particularly by those who saw the original conviction as a milestone in the #MeToo movement. The overturning of the conviction has implications for the women who testified against Weinstein, as they may now face the prospect of a retrial.

Actor Ashley Judd, one of Weinstein's early accusers and a vocal participant in the #MeToo movement, expressed profound distress over the ruling. She described the court's decision as an "institutional betrayal" that undermines the experiences of survivors of male sexual violence. New York's top court justified its decision by pointing to the inclusion of unfair testimonies in the initial trial, which were based on allegations not directly related to the case.

The justices have ordered a new trial, which would necessitate the re-testimony of the same three women who initially accused Weinstein of sexual assault. This requirement places a significant emotional and possibly physical burden on these individuals. Conversely, Weinstein's legal team has celebrated the ruling as a seminal victory, asserting that the original trial was unfair to Weinstein.

Although the 23-year sentence Weinstein received from his 2020 conviction has been nullified by this decision, he remains imprisoned. Weinstein is currently serving a 16-year sentence in Los Angeles, following a separate conviction for rape in the previous year.



Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction overturned

It was a landmark ruling that helped usher in the Me Too movement, and the decision to overturn it four years later came as a slap in the face to survivors of sexual violence. I've got to say it made me sick to my stomach. I'm a sexual abuse survivor myself. Actor Ashley Judd, who was one of the first to speak out against the Hollywood mogul, said she was shocked by the court's decision. This today is an act of institutional betrayal, and our institutions betray survivors of male sexual violence. New York's top court found the initial trial had allowed unfair testimonies against Harvey Weinstein based on allegations that weren't part of the case, and decided to overturn the producer's rape conviction, ordering a new trial, and potentially requiring Weinstein's accusers to testify again. In a new trial, the same three people who complained that Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted them would be called upon to testify again, and that is a very significant burden on these three women. Weinstein's lawyers, meanwhile, called the ruling a major victory and a great day for the United States. From our collective hundreds of years of experience, we knew that Harvey Weinstein did not get a fair trial. While Thursday's ruling scrapped for now Harvey Weinstein's 23-year sentence for rape, the former Hollywood producer will remain behind bars. He was convicted last year to 16 years in prison by a Los Angeles court in a separate rape trial.

The Israeli military said it had taken operational control of the Palestinian side of Gaza's southern Rafah Crossing, which borders Egypt, and that special forces were scanning the area.

Rafah

Israel-Gaza War

Israel claims control of Rafah crossing

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to hold nuclear weapons drills involving the navy and troops based near Ukraine, the defence ministry said Monday.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

Putin orders nuclear drills near Ukraine

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Council of the City of Sydney

Australia hits out at China over helicopter incident

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Baja California

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Seoul

Chinese fighter jet detonates flares near Australian helicopter

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Jerusalem

Israel strikes Rafah after evacuation order, residents say

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Paris

China's Xi Jinping pays state visit to France

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Israeli army orders Palestinians to evacuate parts of Rafah

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Mascot

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Penrith

Police officer accused of assaulting rape victim

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State of Rio Grande do Sul

Climate Crisis

Death toll rises in record-breaking Brazil floods

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China's Xi Jinping visits Europe amid global tensions

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Chicago

Protests disrupt graduation ceremonies at U.S. universities

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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The Israeli cabinet has voted to unanimously shut down Al Jazeera's operations in the country. That's according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement on X. 
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Australian police said they have shot dead a boy after he stabbed a man in Western Australia's capital Perth, in an attack authorities said indicated terrorism.

Perth

Australian police shoot boy dead after stabbing

Sadiq Khan has been elected mayor of London, winning a historic third term after a dramatic contest. Khan was declared the winner over the Conservative candidate, Susan Hall with 43.8% of the vote.

London

Sadiq Khan elected London mayor for third term

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Irvine

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Camperdown

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Mexican authorities lay charges over Australian brothers' disappearance

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Willetton

Police shoot dead ‘radicalised’ teenage boy in Perth

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