Harvey Weinstein Indecent Assault Charges in U.K. Dropped: “Unrealistic Prospect of Conviction”

Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has had two charges of indecent assault against him dropped by the U.K.‘s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

In June 2022, the CPS authorized the charges against Weinstein for alleged offenses against a woman, now in her mid-50s, according to the Metropolitan Police, in 1996.

On Thursday, it was confirmed that the charges have been dropped as there is “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”

Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS’ special crime and counter-terrorism division, said: “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.

“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,” Ferguson added.

The once-worshipped producer was serving a 23-year jail sentence after his 2020 rape conviction in New York, however, it was overturned earlier this year. A tentative new trial date has been set, with jury selection estimated to begin on Nov. 12.

Weinstein was also convicted by a Los Angeles jury in 2022 on three counts of sexual assault against Jane Doe No. 1, who later came forward as former Russian model Evgeniya Chernyshova. He has also filed to appeal that 16-year prison sentence.

Over 100 people in the film industry have made rape and misconduct allegations about Weinstein, which can be traced back to the 1970s. He has continued to maintain his innocence.

The CPS’ special crime division deals with the most complex and sensitive cases in England and Wales including disasters, serious criminal allegations against police officers, corporate manslaughter, and election offenses. Weinstein was stripped of his honorary CBE in 2020, awarded for his contribution to the British film industry.