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Harvey Weinstein Faces 5 to 29 Years in Prison at Sentencing Harvey Weinstein Is Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison
(about 2 hours later)
Harvey Weinstein, the once influential Hollywood producer, was expected to be sentenced to state prison in New York on Wednesday morning after his conviction on felony sex crimes, capping a two-year plummet from grace over his sexual abuse of women. Harvey Weinstein, the once influential Hollywood producer, was sentenced to 23 years in a New York State prison on Wednesday after his conviction on felony sex crimes, capping a two-year plummet from grace over his sexual abuse of women.
For many, the sentencing was expected to mark a major milestone in the #MeToo movement, which gained momentum after several women went public with their complaints about Mr. Weinstein. The sentencing marked a major milestone in the #MeToo movement, which gained momentum after several women went public with their complaints about Mr. Weinstein.
Women’s rights organizations and Mr. Weinstein’s accusers had celebrated the producer’s recent conviction, calling it the start of a new era of women’s empowerment. Women’s rights organizations and Mr. Weinstein’s accusers had celebrated the producer’s conviction, calling it the start of a new era of women’s empowerment.
Two of Mr. Weinstein’s victims who testified at trial were expected to speak before the sentencing, setting up what was likely to be an emotional confrontation with the producer. Justice James A. Burke, who presided over the trial in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, could have sentenced Mr. Weinstein, 67, to as little as five years, but he heeded the arguments of prosecutors who urged him to hand down a long sentence.
Mr. Weinstein, who is 67 and has maintained his innocence, will also be given a chance to speak. He faces between five and 29 years in prison. Before the sentencing, two of Mr. Weinstein’s victims gave emotional statements about the damage he had done to them. Miriam Haley, who testified Mr. Weinstein forced oral sex on her in 2006, said he had forever altered her life, crushing her spirit.
All six of the women who gave graphic accounts on the witness stand of Mr. Weinstein’s sexual assaults entered the courtroom together, taking seats in the front row of the gallery, just behind the prosecution’s table. Next to them sat the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr. The rows behind Mr. Weinstein were largely empty. “He violated my trust and my body and my personal right to deny sexual advances,” she said.
A Manhattan jury of seven men and five women found Mr. Weinstein guilty on Feb. 25 of raping an aspiring actress, Jessica Mann, at a Midtown hotel in 2013, and forcibly performing oral sex on a production assistant, Miriam Haley, in his Lower Manhattan apartment in 2006. For his part, Mr. Weinstein suggested in a rambling speech to the court that he thought his relationships with his victims were consensual and he was “totally confused” by what had happened to him.
“We may have different truths, but I have remorse for all of you and for all the men going through this crisis,” he said, addressing his accusers.
He added: “I really feel remorse for this situation. I feel it deeply in my heart. I’m really trying, I’m really trying to be a better person.”
Justice Burke was unmoved. He gave Mr. Weinstein 20 years for the felony attack on Ms. Haley and an additional three years for the rape of Jessica Mann, an aspiring actress who testified he had forced himself on her in a Manhattan hotel in 2013.
All six of the women who had given graphic accounts on the witness stand of Mr. Weinstein’s sexual assaults had entered the courtroom together, and sat in the front row of the gallery, just behind the prosecution’s table. Some sobbed as the verdict was announced.
Next to them sat the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr. The rows behind Mr. Weinstein, who was in a wheelchair, were largely empty.
A Manhattan jury of seven men and five women found Mr. Weinstein guilty on Feb. 25.
After five days of deliberations, however, the jury acquitted Mr. Weinstein of the most serious charges against him: two counts of predatory sexual assault, which required prosecutors to prove that he had committed a serious sexual assault against at least two women.After five days of deliberations, however, the jury acquitted Mr. Weinstein of the most serious charges against him: two counts of predatory sexual assault, which required prosecutors to prove that he had committed a serious sexual assault against at least two women.
Those charges, as constructed by prosecutors, required the jury to find Mr. Weinstein had raped the actress Annabella Sciorra in the early 1990s at her Gramercy Park apartment. But some jurors doubted her account.Those charges, as constructed by prosecutors, required the jury to find Mr. Weinstein had raped the actress Annabella Sciorra in the early 1990s at her Gramercy Park apartment. But some jurors doubted her account.
The jury also determined Mr. Weinstein was not guilty of first-degree rape in the 2013 attack on Ms. Mann. That charge required the state to prove the use of force or a threat during the attack. The jury instead opted to convict him of third-degree rape, which required prosecutors to prove only that she did not consent.The jury also determined Mr. Weinstein was not guilty of first-degree rape in the 2013 attack on Ms. Mann. That charge required the state to prove the use of force or a threat during the attack. The jury instead opted to convict him of third-degree rape, which required prosecutors to prove only that she did not consent.
Arguing for a lengthy sentence, prosecutors had pointed to a long list of allegations from women who said Mr. Weinstein had sexually assaulted them over four decades. The earliest allegation, prosecutors noted, was from a woman who said he raped her on a business trip in 1978.Arguing for a lengthy sentence, prosecutors had pointed to a long list of allegations from women who said Mr. Weinstein had sexually assaulted them over four decades. The earliest allegation, prosecutors noted, was from a woman who said he raped her on a business trip in 1978.
Joan Illuzzi, the lead prosecutor, said the litany of assaults detailed in a sentencing memorandum “show a lifetime of abuse toward others, sexual and otherwise” and a “total lack of remorse for the harm he has caused.”Joan Illuzzi, the lead prosecutor, said the litany of assaults detailed in a sentencing memorandum “show a lifetime of abuse toward others, sexual and otherwise” and a “total lack of remorse for the harm he has caused.”
But defense lawyers said none of those allegations had been proven. They pointed to Mr. Weinstein’s work raising money on behalf of charities and his rapidly declining health as they pleaded for leniency.But defense lawyers said none of those allegations had been proven. They pointed to Mr. Weinstein’s work raising money on behalf of charities and his rapidly declining health as they pleaded for leniency.
“He lost everything,” his lawyers wrote in a letter to the judge, pointing to his divorce and the loss of his company. “His fall from grace has been historic.”“He lost everything,” his lawyers wrote in a letter to the judge, pointing to his divorce and the loss of his company. “His fall from grace has been historic.”
Reports about Mr. Weinstein’s sexual misconduct had been circulating in Hollywood for decades, even as the producer won critical acclaim for reshaping the independent film industry with Oscar-winners like “Shakespeare in Love” and “Pulp Fiction.”Reports about Mr. Weinstein’s sexual misconduct had been circulating in Hollywood for decades, even as the producer won critical acclaim for reshaping the independent film industry with Oscar-winners like “Shakespeare in Love” and “Pulp Fiction.”
But in late 2017, several of his accusers went public in exposés published by The New York Times and The New Yorker. Since then, more than 90 women have accused Mr. Weinstein of misconduct, including harassment, inappropriate touching and sexual assault.But in late 2017, several of his accusers went public in exposés published by The New York Times and The New Yorker. Since then, more than 90 women have accused Mr. Weinstein of misconduct, including harassment, inappropriate touching and sexual assault.
Recently unsealed court documents show that, in the weeks after the articles were published, Mr. Weinstein and his team scrambled to come up with a response.Recently unsealed court documents show that, in the weeks after the articles were published, Mr. Weinstein and his team scrambled to come up with a response.
The producer desperately sought support from wealthy friends like Jeff Bezos, who founded Amazon, and Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire and former New York City major. The producer desperately sought support from wealthy friends like Jeff Bezos, who founded Amazon, and Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire and former New York City mayor.
Alan Feuer contributed to this report.Alan Feuer contributed to this report.