A Manhattan jury has found former film producer Harvey Weinstein guilty on one count of sexual assault while acquitting him on another in a closely watched retrial.
Weinstein, 73, was charged with three separate counts of sexual assault involving three women. The jury found him guilty of assaulting former production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006, but acquitted him of charges related to the alleged 2002 assault of Kaja Sokola, who was 16 at the time. A verdict has not yet been reached on the third charge involving aspiring actress Jessica Mann, who accused Weinstein of assaulting her in 2013.
Weinstein has consistently denied the allegations, pleading not guilty and asserting that all sexual encounters were consensual.
The verdict came on Wednesday, following five days of deliberations. It marks another chapter in the high-profile legal saga surrounding the disgraced movie mogul, who was a central figure in the rise of the #MeToo movement.
Tensions Run High in the Courtroom
The retrial followed the overturning of Weinstein’s 2020 conviction by a New York appeals court. The prosecution argued that Weinstein manipulated aspiring actresses by offering career opportunities in exchange for sexual acts, describing him as a serial predator. The defence countered by saying the relationships were consensual and “mutually beneficial.”
On the day of the verdict, courtroom tensions reached a boiling point. The jury foreperson claimed he had been bullied by fellow jurors, and Weinstein made a rare request to speak, pleading with the judge to end the trial.
“It’s time to say this trial is over,” Weinstein said.
“My life is on the line, and you know what? It’s not fair.”
Justice Curtis Farber acknowledged reports of shouting and threats among jurors, including one instance where a juror allegedly told another, “I’ll meet you outside one day.” The judge confirmed Juror One was firm in their stance and would not change their vote, though they didn’t reveal what that vote was.
A Career in Ruins
Weinstein once held immense power in Hollywood, co-founding Miramax and producing hits like Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love. But his downfall began in 2017 when over 100 women, including high-profile actresses, accused him of sexual misconduct.
The wave of allegations against Weinstein helped ignite the global #MeToo movement, reshaping conversations around sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace.
Weinstein’s personal studio declared bankruptcy in early 2018, just months after the accusations against him became public.
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