Weinstein found guilty of sexual assault, rape, in turning point for #MeToo movement

By Brendan Pierson

 

Film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York Criminal Courtroom during his ongoing sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 24, 2020. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault and rape in a New York court on Monday and taken away in handcuffs, a turning point for the #MeToo movement that inspired women to publicly accuse powerful men of misconduct.

 

Once one of Hollywood's most influential producers, Weinstein, 67, was found guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress, in 2013.

 

The jury of seven men and five women acquitted Weinstein on the most serious charges. Those carried a potential life sentence.

 

Justice James Burke ordered Weinstein to be held in custody. Officers helped Weinstein unsteadily to his feet before leading him away in handcuffs.

 

Actress Rose McGowan, who had accused Weinstein of rape, wrote on Twitter: "Today is a powerful day & a huge step forward in our collective healing."

 

He faces up to 25 years in prison on the sexual assault conviction. He was also convicted of third degree rape - sexual intercourse without consent - which carries a prison sentence of up to four years.

 

His sentencing hearing was set for March 11.

 

Weinstein's lawyer Arthur Aidala quoted Weinstein as saying to him after the verdict, "I’m innocent. I’m innocent. How can this happen in America?"

 

After Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault and rape by a New York jury, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance told reporters "rape is rape'" and referred to it as the "new landscape for survivors of sexual assault in America."

 

Weinstein was being taken to a medical facility at Rikers Island jail, Aidala said outside the courtroom. "We will have a very professional appeal done by the best and the brightest in the business," he said.

 

A long legal battle in the appeals courts is likely to ensue. At the start of the trial, defence lawyers accused the judge of bias, the prosecutors of withholding evidence, and the media of turning the trial into a circus.

 

Weinstein still faces sexual assault charges in California, which were announced just hours after his New York trial began on Jan. 6. Dozens of women have also filed civil lawsuits against him.

 

"We will change the laws in the future so that rape victims are heard and not discredited and so that it’s easier for people to report their rapes," actress Rosanna Arquette, who has said she resisted unwanted sexual advances by Weinstein, wrote on Twitter.

 

ACCOUNTABILITY

More than 80 women, including famous actresses, had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. He had denied the accusations and said any sexual encounters were consensual.

 

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said at a news conference: "It’s a new day because Weinstein has finally been held accountable." He praised the jurors. "Your verdict turned a page in our criminal justice system.

 

"To the survivors: I owe and we owe an immense debt of courage to you," Vance said.

 

The jury acquitted Weinstein on two counts of predatory sexual assault and first degree rape - forcible sexual intercourse - of Mann.

 

A conviction on predatory sexual assault would have required the jury to find that Weinstein also sexually assaulted actress Annabella Sciorra in 1993 or 1994.

 

Sciorra, best known from the television show "The Sopranos," testified that Weinstein forced his way into her home one winter night, raped her and forced oral sex on her. By law the accusation is too old to be charged as a separate crime.

 

Weinstein made his mark with critically acclaimed films such as "The English Patient" and "Shakespeare in Love."

 

"The jury worked with an incredibly narrow and unjust set of laws governing sexual assault, and though he was not convicted on all counts, Harvey Weinstein will have to answer for his crimes," according to a statement released on behalf of the #MeToo movement.

 

Asked by reporters outside court how the jury service experience was for him personally, jury foreman Bernard Cody said: "Devastating," but declined to elaborate.

 

During his trial, Weinstein often appeared feeble, entering the courthouse using a walker. He sometimes leaned on lead defence lawyer Donna Rotunno for support. Critics had accused Weinstein of playing up medical problems to win sympathy. Weinstein said he had back injuries.

 

Prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who had manipulated women with promises to open doors in Hollywood, coaxing them to hotel rooms or private apartments and then overpowering and violently attacking them.

 

During the trial, the prosecution methodically elicited graphic testimony from several accusers, including Haleyi, who said Weinstein invited her to his SoHo home after she had worked on one of his television productions.

 

After she arrived, Weinstein backed her into a bedroom, held her down on the bed and forced himself on her orally, yanking out her tampon, Haleyi told jurors.

 

Mann said that soon after meeting Weinstein she entered into an "extremely degrading" relationship with him that never included intercourse until, she alleged, he raped her in 2013.

 

She described Weinstein as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character: He was charming in public but often showed terrifying anger when they were alone, Mann said.

 

Legal experts said three women who testified for the prosecution to recount sexual abuse by Weinstein provided powerful evidence that was difficult for the defence to overcome.

 

Throughout the case, the defence said regret drove the accusers to take consensual incidents and reframe them as crimes.

 

Weinstein's lawyers zeroed in on friendly messages and ongoing contact between the women and Weinstein.

 

During cross-examination of Haleyi, for example, the defence showed her a message she sent Weinstein signed "lots of love" after her alleged attack.

Defence lawyers repeatedly suggested that Mann willingly had sex with Weinstein to advance her career.

 

Weinstein never testified in his defence.

 

Prosecutors pushed back against defence assertions that his accusers were not credible and the notion that they were responsible for the alleged attacks.

 

(Reporting by Brendan Pierson; Additional reporting by Maria Caspani, Tom Hals, Jonathan Allen and Angela Moore; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Grant McCool and Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-25

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5 minutes ago, webfact said:

Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault and rape in a New York court on Monday and taken away in handcuffs

Good. 
 

Let’s hope he gets the full 25 years. 

See if he likes the showers in prison...

He can get rid of the walking frame now, appears that did not score him any points.

No way he is the only producer type person doing this type of thing, probably see more cases now

He sure didn't do himself any favors by looking like a bag of sh..t at every court appearance !!

well guess he got what he deserved it’s quite possible he will die in prison audios Harvey 

Another travesty of justice in the land of the free.

Well done to the prosecution and very big thank you to his victims who brought the case.

 

 

Will he get his own casting couch in there ?

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Another travesty of justice in the land of the free.

Not at all.

 

It’s just that the jury has affirmed the right to seek happiness does not include abusing one’s power to rape and sexually assault those you have power over.

 

This is a great day for justice.

4 hours ago, spiekerjozef said:

See if he likes the showers in prison...

Rape, all rape, is a heinous crime.

Agreeing to sex for acting parts is not rape though

27 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Now we wait for the clown to claim this was all witch hunt and proclaim what a wonderful man he is, and pardon his conviction. Both of them very dangerous sad men.

I don't think this was a federal court.

11 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Agreeing to sex for acting parts is not rape though

Seems the law disagrees with you.

15 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Agreeing to sex for acting parts is not rape though

‘Twelve good men and true’ disagree with you.

 

Actually some where women but they also disagree with you.

He will appeal

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"I’m innocent. I’m innocent. How can this happen in America?"

Suck it up, also happens to a lot of coloured people too.

regards Worgeordie

12 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

He will appeal

He has the right to do so, but he’ll need to find grounds for an appeal.

 

Right now he’s guilty and in prison.

Reported off topic post removed.

35 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Suck it up, also happens to a lot of coloured people too.

regards Worgeordie

Would point out Weinstein isn't white.

(according to the US census office)

Edited February 25, 20206 yr by BritManToo

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Another travesty of justice in the land of the free.

Brit, thats premature, a case isnt a travesty until the Appeals Courts rules.

 

Although I agree that the fat nasty blob got caught up in stuff beyond him. He should have been like the rest of us and paid for the nice stuff instead of trying to be a Cheap Charlie and grabbing freebies.

 

That being said, I knew Harvey in the old days and he was always a gross, disgusting, a**hole.

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Would point out Weinstein isn't white.

(according to the US census office)

Yah, he is. I dont think we have a category for Repulsive

2 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

That being said, I knew Harvey in the old days and he was always a gross, disgusting, a**hole.

MeToo!

(you forgot sleazy)

Edited February 25, 20206 yr by BritManToo

POTUS will give him a pardon and a job in the White House 

5 minutes ago, Skallywag said:

POTUS will give him a pardon and a job in the White House 

Do you guys ever give it a rest?

18 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Would point out Weinstein isn't white.

(according to the US census office)

You think I don't know that ,just saying there are a lot of coloured people

in jail who also protest innocent.quite a few who are.he's far from it.

He must be your hero ,judging by the other post you made.

"Another travesty of justice in the land of the free." quote BritManToo

regards Worgeordie

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Well done to the prosecution and very big thank you to his victims who brought the case.

Publicizing this result has prejudiced his next trial therefore praise might be premature.

Did anyone of the Harvey-bashers follow the statements of the "raped" women?

Dating Weinstein after the "rape" repeatedly? Sending him love-messages? Asking for help or a job?

Yeah, sure, it was a kind of Stockholm syndrom and the earth is flat.

20 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Although I agree that the fat nasty blob got caught up in stuff beyond him. He should have been like the rest of us and paid for the nice stuff instead of trying to be a Cheap Charlie and grabbing freebies.

What I cannot fathom, is over 100 women have accused this guy of sexual misconduct and none of them ever fought back?  None kicked him in the groin and ran out the door?  And reported immediately? 

Also, none of the women saw any "red flags" when a producer who could put them in a movie where they could earn a six figure salary invited them to his hotel room after hours? 

 

That said - of course he should be jailed, but like Bill Cosby, too little too late IMO