On January 6, 2020, Harvey Weinstein limped into court with help from his walker and his enablers for the first day of his New York City trial to face charges of rape among other assault accusations. That same day, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office held a press conference to announce four charges against the Weinstein related to two incidents in February 2013. This announcement came more than two years after the allegations were taken to the Los Angeles Police Department. In total, eight women brought claims against Weinstein in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. The District Attorney said the additional claims could not be prosecuted because they either fell outside of the statute of limitations or there was not sufficient enough evidence to proceed.
I’ve taken this week to step back from the media chaos to protect my mental health. This experience has been incredibly stressful and long—too long, many might argue. It’s important to note that survivors are not the only people who suffer in this aftermath. Our friends and families also bear much of the brunt of this ongoing torture. It’s important to protect them, too. But I felt it important to speak in regards to the District Attorney’s statement. Below is the full statement that I gave to the Los Angeles Times soon after the press conference.
Jessica Barth’s full statement to the Los Angeles Times regarding Harvey Weinstein’s Prosecution
Today in NYC, Harvey Weinstein arrived in court and suddenly Los Angeles decided to take a stand against sexual predators.
It’s wonderful the Los Angeles D.A. is finally prosecuting a serial predator. What’s not so wonderful is that it took two years and 100 women for the office to deem multiple rape and sexual assault claims “credible” and “sufficient”. I think it would be beneficial for the District Attorney to hold another press conference to explain what exactly she considers “credible and sufficient” evidence in cases of rape.
District Attorney Jackie Lacy states that in order to file a sexual assault case, prosecutors must be able to convince 12 jurors, beyond a reasonable doubt; the question is, what is considered “reasonable?”
What seems unreasonable is until today and since 2017, more than 40 sexual assault cases have been presented to the LADA’s office yet ZERO have been filed. What seems unreasonable is that “rigorous and tireless” investigation into Weinstein’s victims’ claims were presented in 2017 and yet the LADA waited until 2020 to prosecute the assailant.
This is unacceptable and our criminal justice system must do better in protecting our community from sexual violence. My heart is with all victims today. I hope that the decision to prosecute Weinstein will be a paradigm shift in the way our city handles and prosecutes sexual assault cases; opening doors everywhere to justice.
I also want to send extra support to survivor witnesses taking the stand and reliving their private trauma and pain as this trial progresses. Your voice is changing the world we live in today, creating a safer one for tomorrow and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your courage.
— Jessica Barth
I’d be interested in what percentage of sexual assault cases the LA DA’s office agrees to file charges in at all along with that explanation of what is considered “credible and sufficient” evidence. Apparently an predator admitting very specifically to a felony level offense as well as a lack of consent on a phone call recorded by the police, then confessing to the police as well, is not. (I can vouch for that – and that wasn’t even the only evidence, though it was likely the strongest, and the detective was shocked by the DA decision.) So what is? When do they file? Do they need severe injuries, an instant report? Film of the assault? Do they ever file when it’s a good, strong case, but they’ll actually have to argue so to a jury? Or only when the case pretty much tries itself because everything is so “perfect?”
My sympathies lie with those who must deal with this DA’s office. While it may not be the case for all of the prosecutors that are part of it, in my experience (which is more extensive than I’d wish) and as after be) the victims are simply inconveniently necessary props to this office and are given little consideration as anything else.
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