What to know about Harvey Weinstein’s conviction on a top sex crimes charge at his #MeToo retrial
Share this @internewscast.com

NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Weinstein has once more been found guilty, convicted on Wednesday of a leading sex crimes charge during his #MeToo retrial in New York City. This mixed and partial verdict arose more than five years after his initial conviction, which had been overturned by an appeals court last year.

The jury reached a decision on two out of the three charges against Weinstein, acquitting him of one. However, jurors indicated they had not achieved a unanimous decision on the final charge, suggesting that deliberations may continue on Thursday.

The verdict capped an extraordinary fifth day of deliberations.

The foreperson of the jury expressed that he was experiencing bullying from other jurors. Following this, Weinstein’s lawyer requested a mistrial. Weinstein himself spoke to the judge in the absence of the jury, pleading for the case to conclude without reaching a verdict.

Minutes later, the jury of seven women and five men declared the ailing 73-year-old guilty of one count of criminal sex act, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Weinstein denies raping or sexually assaulting anyone. Once he’s sentenced, he can appeal.

Here’s what you need to know about the verdict:

What was Weinstein convicted of?

Jurors convicted Weinstein of one count of criminal sex act, finding that he forcibly performed oral sex on a TV and movie producer and production assistant, Miriam Haley, nearly two decades ago.

Haley, who had a short stint working on the Weinstein-produced “Project Runway,” testified that he assaulted her in July 2006 after inviting her to stop by his SoHo apartment before a flight his company booked her on the next day to Los Angeles to attend a movie premiere.

Haley testified that Weinstein backed her into a bedroom, pushed her onto a bed and forced oral sex on her, undeterred by her kicks and pleas of, “No, no — it’s not going to happen.”

Weinstein was convicted of the same charge at his first trial.

Haley, who has also gone by the name Mimi Haleyi, told jurors that she was never interested in any sexual or romantic relationship with Weinstein but still wanted his help professionally.

She acknowledged she kept in touch and exchanged warm messages with him and accepted an invitation to his hotel room two weeks after the alleged assault, when she said he pulled her into bed for sex.

What was Weinstein acquitted of?

Weinstein acquitted of a charge of criminal sex act relating to a previously uncharged allegation that he forced oral sex on Kaja (KEYE’-ah) Sokola, a psychologist and former Polish model and actor, at a Manhattan hotel in 2006 just before her 20th birthday.

Sokola, who wasn’t a part of Weinstein’s first trial, testified that Weinstein assaulted her after luring her to his hotel room by telling her had a script to show her. As he pushed her onto a bed, stripped off her boots, her stockings and her underwear, “my soul was removed from me,” she said.

Now 39, Sokola said he held her down while ignoring her pleas of “please don’t, please stop, I don’t want this.” She said she tried to push him away but was no match against the much larger Weinstein.

Sokola also testified that Weinstein sexually assaulted her when she was 16 years old, but that allegation was beyond legal time limits for a potential criminal charge.

Sokola said she stayed in touch with Weinstein because she had dreams of an acting career.

She went to authorities in January 2020, a few days into Weinstein’s first trial. Prosecutors halted their investigation after Weinstein was convicted, but revived it when the verdict was thrown out last year.

What charge hasn’t been decided yet?

The jury hasn’t reached a verdict on a third-degree rape charge involving Jessica Mann’s allegation that Weinstein assaulted her in March 2013.

Mann, a cosmetologist and hairstylist, said she met Weinstein at a party in late 2012 or early 2013, when she was 27 and trying to launch an acting career.

She alleges Weinstein trapped her in a Manhattan hotel room, demanded that she undress as he loomed over her, grabbed her arms and raped her after, she believes, he injected himself with an erection-promoting drug that she later found in the bathroom trash.

Mann said she had a consensual, on-and-off relationship with the then-married Weinstein, but that he was volatile and violated her if she refused him.

She said she kept in touch with Weinstein after the alleged rape, telling jurors she “compartmentalized the part of Harvey that was hurting me,” and that flattery and friendliness “kept the peace.”

The Associated Press generally does not name sexual assault accusers without their permission, which Haley, Mann and Sokola have given.

Why was there a new trial?

New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, threw out Weinstein’s conviction in April 2024.

In a 4-3 decision, the court said the judge in the first trial, James Burke, denied Weinstein a fair trial by letting three women testify about allegations that didn’t result in charges and by deciding that prosecutors could confront Weinstein, if he testified, about stories of him behaving brutishly.

The court labeled the allegations against Weinstein “appalling, shameful, repulsive conduct” but warned that “destroying a defendant’s character under the guise of prosecutorial need” did not justify some trial evidence and testimony.

Burke’s term expired at the end of 2022, and he is no longer a judge.

Prosecutors were not allowed to retry Weinstein on charges that he was acquitted of during his first trial, including predatory sexual assault and one count of first-degree rape.

What about Weinstein’s other criminal case?

Weinstein is appealing his conviction in Los Angeles in a similar case in 2022.

Jurors there found him guilty of three of seven charges, including rape, and he was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Weinstein’s lawyers argued he did not get a fair trial.

They contend that the judge in the California case wrongly allowed jurors to know about Weinstein’s 2020 New York conviction, and that the jury was unfairly prejudiced by testimony from women about alleged assaults Weinstein was not charged with.

__

Associated Press journalists Ruth Brown and Philip Marcelo contributed to this report.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Close-up of Jean Pormanove.

Exploring the Troubling Life of ‘Trash Streamer’ Jean Pormanove, 46, Who Passed Away On Camera After Enduring Torture and Sleep Deprivation for 10 Days

FROM being spat on to kicked in the stomach, “trash streamer” Jean…
More Chicago-area families share grave grievances involving Elmo's Tombstone Service over missing, erroneous headstones

Chicago Families Report Numerous Issues with Elmo’s Tombstone Service, Including Missing and Incorrect Headstones

CHICAGO (WLS) — Families are grappling with unresolved grief as the graves…
What Chris Pratt Said on Bill Maher's Podcast Is Going to Have the Left Even More Furious With Him

Chris Pratt’s Comments on Bill Maher’s Podcast Are Likely to Upset Liberals Even Further

People often ask why I choose to treat Hollywood with a touch…
Family demands justice in Pilsen, Chicago hit-and-run crash that killed Marcela Herrera, injured fiancé near Ashland and Cullerton

Family Seeks Justice After Pilsen Hit-and-Run Kills Marcela Herrera and Injures Fiancé Near Ashland and Cullerton in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) — A poignant melody of love and loss reflects the…
Israeli soldiers observing destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Strategy to Capture Gaza City: Launch of ‘Operation Gideon’s Chariots II’ to Eliminate Hamas

ISRAEL has revealed its plans to conquer Gaza City in a final push…
Photo of Jean Pormanove.

Who Was Jean Pormanove? Tragic Passing of French Streamer During Live Broadcast

ONLINE streamer Jean Pormanove tragically died at the age of 46 after…
Wilmington, North Carolina building explosion NC leaves 4 firefighters injured

Explosion in Wilmington, North Carolina Injures Four Firefighters

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Four firefighters were injured after a building exploded Tuesday…
Teen arrested in Nassau County cyberbullying case involving threats on TikTok

Teen Detained in Nassau County for TikTok Cyberbullying and Threats

NASSAU COUNTY, Fla — The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office reported that earlier…
Nicaraguan man illegally in US facing 'enhanced' charges after drunken hit-and-run: sheriff

Nicaraguan National in US Illegally Faces Upgraded Charges After Alleged Drunken Hit-and-Run Incident: Sheriff

A Nicaraguan national residing illegally in the U.S. is facing “enhanced” charges…

Trump Administration to Screen Legal Immigrant Applicants for ‘Anti-American’ Views and Antisemitic Beliefs

Federal officials are now being instructed to vet immigrants looking to legally…

Officials Confirm Travis Decker’s DNA Was the Sole Evidence Found at Scene of Daughters’ Deaths

(NewsNation) — Officials in Washington state have announced that the only DNA…
US military raid in Syria eliminates ISIS leader-in-waiting, key financier: officials

U.S. Military Raid in Syria Takes Out Potential ISIS Leader and Major Financier, Say Officials

The U.S. military carried out a raid in northern Syria on Tuesday,…