Harvey Weinstein Convicted in Sexual Assault Retrial, Faces Lengthy Prison Term

A New York jury delivered a guilty verdict against former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein in a high-profile sexual assault retrial, reaffirming his role as a catalyst for the #MeToo movement. The Manhattan Supreme Court conviction, following a 2024 vacating of his 2020 sentence, found Weinstein, 73, guilty of assaulting former production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006, among other charges.

The verdict, reported by Reuters and The Guardian, could see Weinstein, already frail after emergency heart surgery, sentenced to up to 23 years, marking a triumph for survivors and prosecutors in a case that reshaped global conversations on power and abuse.

The retrial, spanning six weeks, featured harrowing testimonies from Haley and other victims, detailing Weinstein’s predatory tactics at Miramax and The Weinstein Company. Prosecutors, led by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, presented evidence of coerced encounters, supported by emails and hotel records. Weinstein’s defense, headed by Arthur Aidala, argued consensual relationships, portraying Weinstein as a victim of #MeToo “hysteria,” but the jury, after three days of deliberation, rejected the claim. Survivors like Ashley Judd, who first accused Weinstein in 2017, celebrated the outcome, with Judd tweeting, “Justice endures.” Bragg emphasized the verdict’s message: “No one is above the law.”

Weinstein, detained at Rikers Island, appeared gaunt in court, with his team announcing an appeal, citing judicial bias and prejudicial media coverage. The case, complicated by Weinstein’s health and a 2022 Los Angeles conviction, drew global attention, with protests outside the courthouse demanding accountability. Hollywood figures like Meryl Streep lauded survivors’ courage, while the trial’s impact reverberated in Europe, where France’s #MeToo movement gained traction. The conviction, a testament to judicial resilience, underscores the movement’s lasting influence, as Weinstein’s fall continues to inspire reforms in workplace safety and accountability.