Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of One Sex Crime, Cleared of Another in New York Retrial
Harvey Weinstein, once a powerful name in Hollywood, was convicted on one sex crime charge and acquitted on another during a dramatic retrial in New York. The proceedings revisited the disturbing allegations that ignited the #MeToo movement and led to Weinstein’s fall from grace.
On June 11, after nearly a week of jury deliberations, the 73-year-old was found guilty of a first-degree criminal sexual act for assaulting former production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. However, he was cleared of charges related to the alleged 2002 assault of Kaja Sokola, who was just 16 at the time.
The jury has not yet delivered a verdict on a third charge third-degree rape and is set to resume deliberations on Thursday, June 12.
If convicted on that final count, Weinstein could face up to four additional years, adding to the maximum 25-year sentence he already faces for the current conviction. He’s currently serving 16 years in a California prison following a separate 2022 rape conviction.
This retrial was ordered after a New York appeals court overturned Weinstein’s 2020 conviction — and 23-year sentence — arguing that the judge had improperly allowed testimony from women whose accusations weren’t directly tied to the original charges. Weinstein once again pleaded not guilty in the retrial.
During the case, three women testified. Two said Weinstein forced them to perform oral sex in 2006, while a third accused him of raping her in 2013. One of the central figures, actress Jessica Mann, also testified during the original trial, claiming he raped her in a New York hotel.
Prosecutors described Weinstein as a serial predator who used his Hollywood power to manipulate and assault women behind closed doors, offering fake promises of fame. Meanwhile, his defense claimed all sexual encounters were consensual, alleging that the women made up their stories after failing to succeed in the industry.
Weinstein’s legal team aggressively fought the case. His lawyer, Arthur Aidala, even requested a mistrial after a juror fell ill and was replaced — a motion the judge denied. Previous objections were also overruled, including complaints about the prosecution’s closing arguments.
As the trial wrapped up, Weinstein’s health appeared to be deteriorating. The disgraced mogul, now incarcerated for nearly four years, is battling multiple serious conditions — including chronic myeloid leukemia, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, thyroid issues, obesity, and severe back pain. In January, he told the court he wasn’t sure how much longer he could survive behind bars.
This case, along with his California conviction, has become a symbol of the global #MeToo movement, which exposed widespread abuse in the entertainment industry. Over 100 women, including well-known actresses, have publicly accused Weinstein of harassment or assault — forever altering the conversation around power and accountability.
