Harvey Weinstein Says 'It's Not Fair' Amid New Sex Charge Conviction
By Hollie Silverman
Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was found guilty on an additional sexual assault charge by a New York jury Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.
The 73-year-old was convicted of one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree in his high-profile sex crimes retrial. The jury acquitted him on a second sexual assault charge and remained deadlocked on a third, leaving the verdict on that count undecided as deliberations continued. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
"My life is on the line, and you know what? It's not fair," Weinstein, who attended the proceedings in a wheelchair, said after requesting to address the court. "It's time, it's time, it's time, it's time to say this trial is over."
The Context
The split verdict in Weinstein's retrial arrives five years after his initial conviction, which played a pivotal role in amplifying the #MeToo movement and sparking widespread scrutiny of sexual abuse in powerful industries.
The retrial followed the overturning of Weinstein's 2020 conviction on procedural grounds.
What To Know
The jury convicted Weinstein of forcing oral sex on a former television production assistant, in 2006; acquitted him of a similar charge involving a model; and was unable to reach a verdict on a charge related to the alleged 2013 rape of a former aspiring actress, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Deliberations on the third count were to continue after the split decision. The jury, which consisted of seven women and five men, deliberated for five days following a six-week trial, as reported by the AP.
Weinstein's original conviction in New York dates back to February 2020, when he was found guilty of rape and a felony sex act and sentenced to 23 years in prison.
That verdict was overturned in April 2024 after New York's highest court ruled that testimony from women whose allegations were not included in the formal charges improperly influenced the jury.
Tensions emerged during this retrial's jury deliberations, with reports of some jurors alleging others used Weinstein's overall reputation instead of trial evidence to guide their opinions.
Judge Curtis Farber instructed the jury to concentrate solely on the evidence at hand. Weinstein's defense, led by Arthur L. Aidala, contended that the encounters were consensual and described the prosecution as an attempt to "police the bedroom," the Los Angeles Times reported.
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Harvey Weinstein Court
Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan criminal court as the jury in his retrial deliberates on June 11, 2025. Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)
Weinstein, who suffers from cancer and diabetes, has remained at Bellevue Hospital during the trial for health reasons.
He also faces a 16-year sentence for a 2022 sex crimes conviction in Los Angeles, where he was found guilty in a separate criminal case. His legal team has stated their intent to continue appealing his California conviction and has highlighted their concerns with the New York proceedings.
The three women at the center of this case previously received civil settlements, a point raised by Weinstein's defense.
What People Are Saying
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg told the jury, according to the Los Angeles Times: "This was not a 'courting game,' as Mr. Aidala wants you to believe. This was not a 'transaction.' It was about rape."
Jennifer Bonjean, Weinstein's California attorney, told The New York Times after the Manhattan verdict: "We continue to fight. This doesn't change the strength of the appeal, which is strong and compelling. We will continue to fight till the bitter end."
What Happens Next
The jury was expected to resume deliberations on the undecided rape charge.
Following the conclusion of the New York proceedings, Weinstein is expected to be transferred to California to serve his existing 16-year sentence while his legal teams continue to pursue appeals in both jurisdictions.
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