Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Sexual Assault in New York Retrial

New York, NY — Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of sexually assaulting his former assistant, but a jury ruled he was not guilty of raping a teenage model. The verdict came down on Wednesday afternoon, marking a significant moment in his ongoing legal troubles.

The jury, comprising five men and seven women, unanimously convicted Weinstein of forcibly subjecting his former production assistant, Mimi Haley, to a criminal sex act in 2006. However, they acquitted him of the charge related to model Kaja Sokola, ruling he did not force oral sex on her.

After five days of intense deliberations, the jury is still working on reaching a verdict concerning allegations made by aspiring actress Jessica Mann, who claims Weinstein raped her in 2013. The trial lasted over a month and featured testimonies from the accusers and evidence presented by both sides.

Weinstein’s legal team argued that the encounters were consensual, suggesting that the women engaged in sexual activities as a ‘quid pro quo’ to advance their careers. Following the verdict, public relations consultant Juda Engelmayer, representing Weinstein, stated that he believes there were issues with the jury’s deliberations, including complaints from jurors regarding preconceived notions about Weinstein’s character.

Weinstein’s lawyers indicated plans to appeal, citing potential errors in the jury process. This trial stems from a series of accusations that led to Weinstein’s previous 23-year sentence being overturned last year due to claims of an unfair trial.

In addition to the recent conviction, Weinstein is currently serving a 16-year sentence in Los Angeles for rape and other sexual crimes, which also includes four charges he was acquitted of. His legal team has filed an appeal in that case as well.

The recent verdict and ongoing legal battles continue to be a pivotal moment in discussions surrounding sexual misconduct and accountability in the film industry, particularly as it relates to the broader #MeToo movement.