Harvey Weinstein found guilty of sexual assault in New York retrial, acquitted on another charge
In a notable legal development, Harvey Weinstein, once a prominent Hollywood executive, who faced accusations of sexual misconduct over many years, was convicted for one instance of sexual assault in 2006 but was cleared on another charge from the same year during his high-profile re-trial concerning allegations of sexual crimes in New York.
In February 2020, a predominantly female jury reached a divided decision following a week’s worth of deliberation. Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of rape and one count of a serious sex crime linked to specific accusations made by Jessica Mann and Mimi Haley. However, he was initially acquitted on two charges of predatory sexual assault at that time. A month later, he was given a 23-year prison sentence.
A New York appeals court overturned Weinstein’s rape conviction in April 2024.
On Wednesday, he was found guilty of coercing oral sex from Haley and not guilty for a similar allegation involving former model Kaja Sokola. The jury could not reach a decision on a third charge of raping Mann in 2013, as reported by the Associated Press.
Voices
Commentary: With his ‘casting couch’ defense, Weinstein continues to damage the culture he once ruled
Through his legal representation, Harvey Weinstein seeks to reintroduce the outdated notion of the ‘casting couch.’ Essentially, the defense aims to demonstrate that the female witnesses in his second trial consensually engaged in sexual activities with Weinstein for professional opportunities, and later accused him as a means to secure financial compensation.
In wrapping up their defense, spoken on June 4th by attorney Arthur L. Aidala, Weinstein’s legal representative argued that the alleged assaults were simply a part of a “dating game” or “transactional” interactions involving favors. Aidala further stated that prosecutors were attempting to regulate private bedroom activities. He also pointed out that Weinstein had been labeled as the primary symbol, the initial offender, for the #MeToo movement.
In a shift of approach, Prosecutor Nicole Blumberg countered defense arguments by asserting, “What Mr. Aidala describes as a ‘courting game’ or a ‘transaction’ was not what occurred. It wasn’t about ‘fooling around.’ Instead, it was an act of rape.
Entertainment & Arts
As a movie critic, I’m following the latest developments in the Harvey Weinstein case. Recently, the disgraced film producer has been hit with new sex crime charges, marking another twist before his upcoming retrial in New York. This adds yet another layer to the ongoing saga that began with allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
The second trial for Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced film producer, commenced on April 23rd. It included emotional testimonies from Haley, a former production assistant at The Weinstein Company, aspiring actress Mann who had previously testified, and Sokola, who did not give evidence during the 2020 trial. Judge Curtis Farber presided over the court proceedings.
Weinstein, aged 73, is being tried for accusations that led to his initial rape and felony sex act conviction, as well as a new charge of sexual assault based on Sokola’s claim that he coerced oral sex from her in 2006 when she was just 19. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to all these charges, with his defense arguing that the alleged sexual interactions were consensual.
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2025-06-11 22:01