15 Years in Manhattan

Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Manhattan on Wednesday for a felony sex crime involving Miriam Haley, with the court tying the punishment to a criminal sexual act conviction after a retrial. Miriam Haley told the court that “Having been sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein has had a devastating effect on my life and sense of security that may never go away,” and she added, “It’s a life sentence for me.”

Left out by 10 of 12who reported it

Haley described smear campaigns by Weinstein, his team, and podcasters.. Reported by The Guardian and Al Jazeera.

Judge Curtis Farber said Weinstein “You took what you wanted by force and you have never accepted responsibility,” as the judge acknowledged Weinstein would be remembered not just for producing films but as “the face of the #MeToo movement.” Weinstein, 74, appeared in court in a wheelchair and apologized to those he may have hurt while insisting on “innocence,” telling the judge, “I do have remorse for Miriam Haley’s pain, but I have to reiterate my innocence.”

Image from ABC7 New YorkABC7 New YorkABC7 New YorkLegal odyssey and health

New York’s highest court overturned Weinstein’s 2020 conviction in 2024 and ordered a new trial, ruling that Weinstein was prejudiced by testimony from other women whose allegations were not part of the case. Weinstein was convicted again last year at a retrial, and the jury acquitted him of forcibly performing oral sex on Kaja Sokola while it could not reach a verdict on a rape charge involving Jessica Mann.

Manhattan prosecutors asked for 20 years in prison with five years of post-release supervision, while defense lawyer Jacob Kaplan asked for a sentence of three more years on top of the six years Weinstein had already served. Kaplan argued that a longer sentence would make it more likely that Weinstein dies in prison, and Kaplan said Weinstein has been in the hospital six times since 2025 while dealing with blood cancer, congestive heart failure, and kidney issues.

Image from Al JazeeraAl JazeeraAl JazeeraWhat comes next

Weinstein was also awaiting resentencing in a separate rape case in Los Angeles, where a California appeals court upheld the 2022 conviction but threw out his original 16-year sentence. The sentencing in New York followed a sequence that included a hung jury in May in the Mann case, after which Manhattan prosecutors dropped the rape charge rather than pursue a fourth trial.

Prosecutors told the court Weinstein “has never shown an ounce of remorse” and asked for a 20-year sentence, framing the case as needing deterrence to prevent other powerful figures from abusing their authority. Miriam Haley said she didn’t think she would be giving a victim impact statement again six years after Weinstein’s initial conviction, and she warned that she would be “looking over my shoulder for years to come” as Weinstein remains in custody.