Harvey Weinstein Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Rape and Sexual Assault
Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced movie mogul, was sentenced to 16 years in prison by a Los Angeles judge Thursday, adding to the 23-year sentence he is already serving in New York.[0] The 70-year-old was convicted in December on three charges of rape and sexual assault and is now very likely to spend the rest of his life in prison.[1]
The sentence comes after Weinstein was found guilty in December of raping a woman in a Beverly Hills hotel room in 2013.[2] The victim, referred to as “Jane Doe #1”, testified for three days of emotional testimony and cross-examination. Weinstein was acquitted of one charge and the jury deadlocked on three other counts.[3]
The case against Weinstein was a driving force behind the #MeToo and Time's Up movements, which have encouraged women to speak out about workplace sexual harassment and abuse by powerful men in certain industries.[1] Weinstein himself compared his own situation to the Red Scare of the 1940s and '50s, during which Hollywood professionals were blacklisted for their perceived support of communism, during his New York sentencing in March 2020.[1]
Before being sentenced, Weinstein addressed the court, professing his innocence and asserting that he did not warrant spending the rest of his life behind bars.[4] The lawyers representing him asked the judge for clemency and requested that a three-year sentence be imposed.[4] But Superior Court Judge Lisa B. Lench denied the defense request for a new trial, rejecting arguments from Weinstein’s lawyers that the trial was stacked against their client because of the exclusion of certain evidence and jury instructions.[3]
At that time, the jury was unable to come to a decision regarding whether Harvey Weinstein had raped or assaulted two other women.[0] Jennifer Siebel Newsom, an actress and film producer, is married to Governor Gavin Newsom of California.[0]
Weinstein’s lawyers argued that the court wrongly precluded them from introducing relevant evidence and argument, particularly centering around Jane Doe #1.[5] “There are too many loopholes. Too many things wrong with this case,” Weinstein said in court ahead of his sentencing.[6] He added: “I beg your mercy.”[2]
Over ninety female individuals have alleged that Weinstein has committed sexual misconduct, despite the fact that he generally denies any such wrongdoings.[7] The New York case being appealed by Weinstein makes the California conviction and its accompanying sentencing even more significant for the women who allege he sexually abused them.[7]
0. “Harvey Weinstein likely to spend remainder of his life in jail” The News International, 24 Feb. 2023, https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1043702-harvey-weinstein-likely-to-spend-remainder-of-his-life-in-jail
1. “Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 more years in prison” NPR, 23 Feb. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/02/23/1158207425/harvey-weinstein-los-angeles
2. “Harvey Weinstein begs for mercy as he is sentenced to another 16 years in prison” The Independent, 23 Feb. 2023, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/harvey-weinstein-prison-mercy-begs-sentencing-b2288475.html
3. “Harvey Weinstein’s Rape Victim Gives Tearful Statement at Sentencing: ‘The Man Who Ripped Out My Soul Has No Regrets’” Variety, 24 Feb. 2023, https://variety.com/2023/film/news/harvey-weinstein-jane-doe-statement-sentencing-1235533047/
4. “Harvey Weinstein will spend the rest of his life behind bars: sentenced in LA to 16 additional years” Marca English, 23 Feb. 2023, https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/movies/2023/02/24/63f8179922601dcf268b45c1.html
5. “Harvey Weinstein Sentenced to 16 Years in L.A. Rape Trial” Hollywood Reporter, 23 Feb. 2023, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/harvey-weinstein-sentence-16-years-rape-trial-1235332531
6. “Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 additional years in prison” The A.V. Club, 23 Feb. 2023, https://www.avclub.com/harvey-weinstein-sentenced-to-16-more-years-in-prison-1850150015
7. “Harvey Weinstein Is Going to Prison for Another 16 Years” VICE, 23 Feb. 2023, https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7v5yb/harvey-weinstein-sentencing
