Kevin Spacey will not be prosecuted for sexual harassment case
Kevin Spacey, who was embroiled in the #MeToo movement, will not be prosecuted for sexual harassment charges. While he has already been condemned in the court of public opinion, he seems to have escaped the not-so-long arm of the law. The Los Angeles District Attorney's office said that the case was being dismissed as it fell outside the statute of limitations in California.
Spacey fought the law, and he won
The DA's office in Los Angeles issued a statement saying that after reviewing one of the cases against Spacey, they had decided to drop it. The case was filed in April against him for a crime he committed in 1992. The alleged victim was not a minor at the time, and thus the case fell outside the statute of limitations according to California law.
Not out of the woods yet
Spacey might think he pulled off a move like his 'Usual Suspects' character Verbal Kint by beating the law. However, he has another ongoing case against him which is being reviewed since August, by the DA's office. With over 30 men accusing the actor of unwanted sexual advances, it will surely not be long before one of the cases stick and Spacey faces justice.
The limitations on the law is why we need #MeToo
Although legal justice should be the response to all crimes, one must accept the limitations of the justice system. The case against Spacey being dropped is a prime example, where the alleged victim cannot seek recourse within the justice system. When the system fails, movements like #MeToo become necessary, where social and professional ostracization can be seen as a substituting consequence to legal justice.
