Harvey Weinstein found guilty in Manhattan sexual assault retrial, resulting in a split verdict.

Harvey Weinstein, the former Hollywood mogul whose career has been marred by multiple sexual assault allegations, has been convicted of a criminal sex act in a split verdict announced in Manhattan on Wednesday. This verdict arrives almost a year after an earlier decision in his landmark 2020 trial was overturned by the New York State Court of Appeals.

In this most recent trial, which lasted approximately eight weeks, a jury composed of seven women and five men deliberated for five days before reaching a decision. They found Weinstein guilty of a sexual assault against former television production assistant Miriam Haley, while acquitting him of similar charges against Polish model and aspiring actress Kaja Sokola. The 73-year-old Weinstein now faces a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

Throughout the trial, which included testimony from Haley, Sokola, and former actress Jessica Mann, the court heard harrowing accounts of how Weinstein allegedly forced himself on these women. Mann described an incident in 2013 in which Weinstein allegedly raped her, while Haley and Sokola recounted separate instances of Weinstein performing oral sex on them against their will in 2006.

The jury foreman’s account of the deliberation process revealed significant tension among jurors, including an incident where one juror allegedly threatened another. The court drama culminated in Weinstein’s attorneys calling for a mistrial, claiming that juror interactions indicated menacing behavior and harassment.

In light of the issues presented during the trial, testimony from the women was restricted to their specific allegations against Weinstein, even as the broader context of his history of alleged sexual misconduct loomed large over the proceedings. The prosecution argued that the women were motivated to come forward following extensive media coverage revealing Weinstein’s pattern of abuse, while the defense sought to undermine their credibility by suggesting financial motivations linked to settlement funds associated with Weinstein’s bankruptcy.

Weinstein’s previous conviction in 2020, which warranted a 23-year prison sentence, was overturned due to a ruling that questioned the admissibility of testimony from women not directly connected to the charges. Presently, he is also serving a concurrent 16-year sentence following a conviction in Los Angeles for additional charges of rape and sexual assault, which he is appealing.

As the #MeToo movement continues to influence public dialogue around sexual violence and accountability, the latest verdict against Weinstein underscores ongoing societal struggles regarding justice for survivors of sexual assault and the complexities of high-profile legal battles in such cases.