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Saturday, Jun 14, 2025
Outside the box.
Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Sexual Assault in New York Retrial
Jury convicts disgraced producer on one charge while deliberating on another, following previous overturned conviction.
Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree by a Manhattan jury in a retrial that lasted three weeks.
This verdict follows a previous conviction in 2020 that was overturned on appeal due to irregularities in the trial process.
The jury found Weinstein guilty of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley, a former television production assistant, but acquitted him of a second charge involving Kaja Sokola, an aspiring actress.
Discussions regarding a charge of rape involving Jessica Mann, who alleges that Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013, are still ongoing as the jury has not reached a unanimous verdict.
The jury has been advised to continue deliberations.
This partial verdict in Weinstein's retrial comes after the jury showed signs of discord in deliberations, prompting Weinstein to request a mistrial on the grounds that some jurors reported feeling unsafe.
The judge overseeing the trial, Curtis Farber, noted issues raised by the jury foreperson regarding tensions within the deliberation room.
Reports indicated that some jurors felt pressured to change their opinions during the deliberations.
Weinstein's legal team characterized the foreperson's concerns regarding safety during deliberations as severe, while the prosecution contended that the foreperson did not exhibit fear but rather stubbornness.
Previous complaints from jurors signaled a lack of agreement on key issues, prompting ongoing discussions between the judge and the jury.
Miriam Haley expressed hope following the verdict, stating that it represents a growing awareness around the issues of sexual violence.
Kaja Sokola described the judgment as a positive outcome, emphasizing that it might encourage others to come forward.
Jessica Mann released a statement emphasizing the importance of taking allegations of sexual assault seriously and criticized the portrayal of her and other survivors during the trial.
The trial's significance is underscored by its context within the #MeToo movement, which brought global attention to issues of sexual misconduct and abuse of power.
Weinstein has denied all allegations against him, asserting that any interactions were consensual.
His previous convictions include a 23-year sentence stemming from the first trial and a concurrent 16-year sentence from a sex crime conviction in California.
As the trial continues with deliberations on the remaining charge, Weinstein remains incarcerated, having attended court proceedings from custody due to health issues, including treatment for leukemia.
This verdict follows a previous conviction in 2020 that was overturned on appeal due to irregularities in the trial process.
The jury found Weinstein guilty of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley, a former television production assistant, but acquitted him of a second charge involving Kaja Sokola, an aspiring actress.
Discussions regarding a charge of rape involving Jessica Mann, who alleges that Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013, are still ongoing as the jury has not reached a unanimous verdict.
The jury has been advised to continue deliberations.
This partial verdict in Weinstein's retrial comes after the jury showed signs of discord in deliberations, prompting Weinstein to request a mistrial on the grounds that some jurors reported feeling unsafe.
The judge overseeing the trial, Curtis Farber, noted issues raised by the jury foreperson regarding tensions within the deliberation room.
Reports indicated that some jurors felt pressured to change their opinions during the deliberations.
Weinstein's legal team characterized the foreperson's concerns regarding safety during deliberations as severe, while the prosecution contended that the foreperson did not exhibit fear but rather stubbornness.
Previous complaints from jurors signaled a lack of agreement on key issues, prompting ongoing discussions between the judge and the jury.
Miriam Haley expressed hope following the verdict, stating that it represents a growing awareness around the issues of sexual violence.
Kaja Sokola described the judgment as a positive outcome, emphasizing that it might encourage others to come forward.
Jessica Mann released a statement emphasizing the importance of taking allegations of sexual assault seriously and criticized the portrayal of her and other survivors during the trial.
The trial's significance is underscored by its context within the #MeToo movement, which brought global attention to issues of sexual misconduct and abuse of power.
Weinstein has denied all allegations against him, asserting that any interactions were consensual.
His previous convictions include a 23-year sentence stemming from the first trial and a concurrent 16-year sentence from a sex crime conviction in California.
As the trial continues with deliberations on the remaining charge, Weinstein remains incarcerated, having attended court proceedings from custody due to health issues, including treatment for leukemia.
