Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced former Hollywood mogul whose downfall ignited the global #MeToo movement, was found guilty of a felony sexual assault charge in Manhattan on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, marking a significant moment in his long and tumultuous legal saga. This conviction came after a six-week retrial, following the overturning of his landmark 2020 New York conviction by the state’s highest court last year due to procedural errors. The jury of 12, composed of seven women and five men, delivered a split verdict: Weinstein was found guilty of a criminal sexual act against Miriam Haley but acquitted on a similar charge involving Kaja Sokola. Deliberations on a third charge of third-degree rape concerning Jessica Mann were set to resume the next day.
The trial unfolded in Manhattan Supreme Court, where Weinstein, now 73 and confined to a wheelchair due to deteriorating health—including emergency heart surgery in September 2024 and a diagnosis of bone marrow cancer—faced three accusers: Miriam Haley, Kaja Sokola, and Jessica Mann. Each woman testified over several days, recounting harrowing experiences of sexual abuse by the former producer, who once towered over Hollywood both literally and figuratively.
Haley accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her in his SoHo apartment in 2006, an allegation that led to his conviction on the criminal sexual act charge. Sokola, a Polish former model and actress, alleged a similar assault in a Manhattan hotel room that same year but was acquitted on that count. Mann accused Weinstein of raping her in 2013 at a Manhattan hotel, a charge on which the jury had yet to reach a verdict as deliberations continued.
The jury's decision was announced amid dramatic tensions within the deliberation room. The foreman reported verbal threats and hostility, including a juror stating, “I’ll meet you outside one day.” Such discord prompted Weinstein’s defense team to demand a mistrial, citing menacing and harassment. Weinstein himself addressed the court, pleading, “This is not right for me, the person that’s on trial here,” underscoring the gravity of the situation. The presiding judge, Curtis Farber, acknowledged the jurors’ disputes but insisted that such conflicts are not uncommon in high-profile trials.
The retrial was necessitated after the New York Court of Appeals overturned Weinstein’s 2020 conviction in a narrow 4-3 decision. The appeals court ruled that the original trial was unfair because the judge had permitted testimony from women whose allegations were not part of the charges, effectively prejudicing the jury by suggesting a pattern of behavior without the formal charges to back it. This ruling forced prosecutors to retry Weinstein on a narrower set of charges, excluding so-called Molineux witnesses who previously testified about uncharged acts.
Despite the retrial’s narrower scope, the shadow of Weinstein’s extensive history of sexual misconduct loomed large. More than 100 women have accused him of sexual abuse, assault, and rape over several decades, with many allegations publicly surfacing in 2017 to spark the #MeToo movement. This social reckoning challenged entrenched power dynamics in Hollywood and beyond, empowering survivors to speak out against abuse by influential men.
During the trial, all three accusers testified about receiving money from a court-ordered victims’ settlement fund tied to the bankruptcy of Weinstein’s former company, Weinstein Co. Defense attorneys portrayed the women as opportunists, suggesting they manipulated Weinstein to gain industry advantages and financial settlements. They also highlighted friendly communications between Weinstein and the accusers after the alleged assaults, attempting to undermine their credibility. However, Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg countered these claims, emphasizing that the accusers had remained silent for years, only coming forward after media revelations exposed Weinstein’s serial abuse in 2017.
Miriam Haley, who also testified in Weinstein’s 2020 trial, described the experience as “exhausting and at times dehumanizing,” but expressed hope that the verdict signaled a shift in societal awareness. “The myth of the perfect victim is fading,” she said, urging others to seek justice and warning predators that their time to evade consequences is ending. Her attorney, Gloria Allred, a prominent advocate for survivors, affirmed that the #MeToo movement remains vibrant despite claims to the contrary, calling the verdict a confirmation of ongoing progress.
Kaja Sokola, though acquitted of the charge related to her case, expressed relief that Weinstein was held accountable for some of his crimes. She called coming forward “the hardest thing I’ve ever done” but felt empowered by the chance to share her truth and contribute to his conviction. Her attorney, Lindsay Goldbrum, acknowledged the challenges of proving decades-old allegations beyond a reasonable doubt but maintained that the #MeToo movement still has work ahead to secure justice within the judicial system.
Jessica Mann, the third accuser, has yet to see a verdict on her rape charge. She issued a statement affirming, “I would never lie about rape or use something so traumatic to hurt someone,” underscoring the seriousness of the allegations. Mann’s testimony, alongside Haley’s and Sokola’s, formed the backbone of the prosecution’s case, which sought to demonstrate Weinstein’s abuse of power over women aspiring to enter the entertainment industry.
The trial also highlighted Weinstein’s complex relationships with the accusers. Defense lawyers argued that the sexual encounters were consensual and part of “friends with benefits” arrangements, pointing to ongoing contact and communications after the alleged assaults. They questioned the timing of the accusers’ decisions to come forward, suggesting financial motives tied to the rise of the #MeToo movement. Prosecutors, however, painted a picture of intimidation and silence broken only by the courage of survivors.
Weinstein’s legal troubles extend beyond New York. He is currently serving a 16-year sentence in California after a 2022 conviction for rape and sexual assault, which he is appealing. Prior to that, he was sentenced to 23 years in New York following his 2020 conviction, which the appeals court overturned. The new conviction in Manhattan will add to his time behind bars if upheld.
The retrial received less public attention than the original 2020 trial, a reflection of shifting media focus and the passage of time. The trial coincided with the high-profile federal trial of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs in an adjacent courthouse, which overshadowed Weinstein’s proceedings. Nevertheless, the case remains a critical chapter in the ongoing reckoning with sexual abuse by powerful men in entertainment and other industries.
Reflecting on the trial’s significance, legal experts note that despite setbacks and acquittals in other high-profile cases, the Weinstein convictions have had a profound impact on societal attitudes and legal approaches to sexual violence. The #MeToo movement has catalyzed reforms in how prosecutors and law enforcement handle such cases, fostering greater sensitivity to victims and encouraging accountability.
However, challenges persist. Some legal observers warn of a backlash against #MeToo, citing political figures with histories of harassment gaining mainstream support and high-profile defamation suits that may deter survivors from coming forward. Advocates emphasize the need for continued vigilance and systemic change to ensure justice for survivors.
As the jury prepares to resume deliberations on the remaining charge, the outcome will further shape the legacy of a case that not only defined a man’s fall from grace but also symbolized a global movement for change. For Miriam Haley, Kaja Sokola, Jessica Mann, and countless others, the trial represents both personal courage and a broader fight against abuse and impunity.
