Mario Batali found not guilty in alleged groping incident

The Washington Post

A judge in Boston acquitted the celebrity chef after a two-day trial in which accuser Natali Tene testified he groped her at a restaurant in the city in 2017. While Tene testified, Batali, who gave up his right to a jury trial, opted not to take the stand. "The complaining witness has significant credibility issues.” said Judge James Stanton. “The issues were highlighted in her testimony.” Stanton also said that evidence showed the accuser was motivated by financial gain. As The Washington Post's Tim Carman notes: "The case against Batali, 61, was a #MeToo landmark: the first time a chef accused of sexual misconduct faced criminal charges in court."