Manhattan Institute fellow and former prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon reacts to news Thursday of Harvey Weinstein's conviction being upheld in appellate court:
I’m so grateful and relieved that the appellate division upheld the conviction earlier today against former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The real heroes here are the women who stood up and bravely faced the world to expose what this powerful producer did to them.
The trial court made thoughtful and fair decisions and the appellate court examined every aspect of this matter with reason and understanding. They recognized that jurors are informed, and that our system of justice needs to incorporate experts to educate the public on issues like rape trauma. I credit all our jurors for their patience, attention, and hard work in arriving at this just result.
Mr. Weinstein had skilled and experienced counsel who challenged the evidence with precision. He had the benefit of a thorough, expert defense.
In the end, justice prevailed.
—Joan Illuzzi-Orbon is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute who previously served in the Manhattan District Attorney's office where she was responsible for convicting Harvey Weinstein of rape and sexual assault in 2016.