Jury Convicts Weinstein Sexual Assault

A Manhattan jury found former film producer Harvey Weinstein guilty June 11 of committing a sex crime against a former production assistant. Jurors have not yet reached a verdict on all charges.

The mogul’s previous conviction from 2020 was overturned by a New York state appeals court last year. Weinstein has been charged with rape and assault. The 73-year-old movie mogul has pleaded not guilty to charges of raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013, and assaulting two other women in 2006 and 2002. He has consistently denied any non-consensual sex acts.

A jury on Wednesday found Weinstein guilty of one of three charges, assaulting former production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. Jurors found him not guilty of assaulting Kaja Sokola in 2002, when she was a 16-year-old aspiring actress, Reuters reported.

The jury has not yet reached a verdict on the third charge - that of raping Mann.

Weinstein’s retrial began April 23. In closing arguments, the prosecutor told jurors that the evidence showed how Weinstein used his power and influence to lure and exploit women.

The defense, meanwhile, maintained that all the encounters were consensual and that the accusers only made up their stories of assault after their Hollywood careers did not pan out as expected. Defense attorney Arthur Aidala said the women were lying.

Weinstein has been held at Rikers Island since his conviction was overturned in New York. He is serving a 16-year sentence in a separate California trial. He has had several health issues, including heart surgery in September.

In 2020, a jury found Weinstein guilty of raping Mann and sexually assaulting Haley. The verdict was a milestone for the #MeToo movement, which encouraged women to come forward with accusations of sexual harassment by powerful men, Reuters noted.

Weinstein’s once-powerful Miramax studio produced hits like “Shakespeare in Love” and “Pulp Fiction.” More than 100 women, including famous actresses, have accused the producer of inappropriate behavior, which he denies.

From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

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