After five days of deliberation, Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday of rape and sexual assault, sealing his dizzying fall from powerful Hollywood studio boss and Democrat party mega-donor to convicted rapist.
The verdict followed weeks of often harrowing and excruciatingly graphic testimony from a string of accusers who told of rapes, forced oral sex, groping, masturbation, lewd propositions and how Hollywood’s casting couch works.
The case against the once-feared producer was essentially built on three allegations: that he raped an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013, that he forcibly performed oral sex on another woman, production assistant Mimi Haleyi, at his apartment in 2006, and that he raped and forcibly performed oral sex on “Sopranos” actress Annabella Sciorra in her apartment in the mid-1990s.
The conviction was seen as a long-overdue reckoning for Harvey Weinstein after years of whispers about his behavior turned into a torrent of accusations in 2017 that destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo, the global movement to encourage women to come forward and hold powerful men accountable for their sexual misconduct.
California woman accused of killing trans son-in-law puts blame on husband in new docs: reports
Polish president forces his way into high court after dramatic return as supporters clash with police
Sheriff’s department gives update on Nancy Guthrie case 9 months after kidnapping
CEO of California-Based In-N-Out Burger Teases Major Expansion East
Masked Invaders Stage Terrifying Armed Attack on CEO’s Family Home: Both Daughters Shot, Wife Struck with Hammer
Carney aims for June deal with EU to define ‘associate member’ status in bid to undercut US influence
EXCLUSIVE: ICE captures illegal alien at center of NYC manhunt after sanctuary city release
Absurd: ICE Agent Faces Assault Charge in Texas for Striking Fleeing Illegal Immigrant
WATCH: Air Force One Performs ‘Epic’ Halloween Flyover for White House Trick-or-Treaters
DOJ insists it just wants Alaska ballots preserved and isn’t seeking to change votes
BREAKING: Bessent and FBI Director Kash Patel Announce Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Arrests in Sweeping Minnesota Crackdown
Heroic Crack Shot Local Cop Sniper Who Saved Trump’s Life ‘Erased’ from News by Embarrassed Feds: Family
‘Biscuit’ the dog is latest dead felon to get their voting rights back from Spanberger, confused owner says
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: A rare reversal, a Christian battle and a reality check
Appeals court rejects DOJ effort to set aside 20,000 mail-in ballots, teeing up Supreme Court gambit
Weinstein’s story ensnared several high-profile political figures, media moguls and publications, and left-wing organizations, many of whom the producer had given large donations to or supported in the past. Indeed, Harvey Weinstein had given $10,000 to Bill Clinton’s legal defense fund during the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal. The Clinton Foundation accepted some $250,000 in contributions from Weinstein. When asked, the organization said it couldn’t return the money because it had been used. The campaign for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in October 2017 that he would keep the more than $60,000 in donations he received from Harvey Weinstein. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), all said they would donate contributions they received from Weinstein over the years to charitable causes.
The jury of seven men and five women took five days to find him guilty.
Three additional women who said they, too, were attacked by Weinstein also testified as part of an effort by prosecutors to show a pattern of brutish behavior on his part.
Weinstein will reportedly remain in jail until his sentencing, set for March 11.
The New York Times reported:
The judge then announced that Mr. Weinstein would immediately be sent to jail to await his sentencing. But as court officers approached him, the producer seemed stunned and refused to move. Moments later, he was handcuffed and removed from the room, limping with two officers standing by his side.
Story cited here.
