The U.K.’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that it will no longer pursue criminal charges of indecent assault against disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein. The decision was made after determining that there is “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”
In June 2022, the CPS had authorized two charges of indecent assault against Weinstein, stemming from alleged incidents in London in 1996. However, these charges will now be dropped.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, stated: “Following a review of the evidence in this case, the CPS has decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against Harvey Weinstein. The CPS has a duty to keep all cases under continuous review and we have decided that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”
Ferguson added: “We have explained our decision to all parties. We would always encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and report to police, and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.
This decision marks another legal development for Weinstein, who remains in prison while awaiting a new trial in New York. Earlier this year, his 2020 rape conviction was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals due to concerns about the fairness of his original trial. A new trial is expected to take place in November.
In addition to his ongoing legal battles in New York, Weinstein was convicted on three counts of rape and sexual assault during a 2022 trial in Los Angeles. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison for those charges.
