The guy is a creep. The jury found him guilty. What he did is criminal, but is it still possible to see that the women he slept with were trying to further their careers by having sex with him? Some might say the only thing he is really guilty of is being criminally ugly.
10
Meanwhile, self-proclaimed "sexual predator," Donald John Trump, continues to abuse the most powerful office in the world.
And we somehow can't do anything about it.
41
It's more than evident that Harvey Weinstein is a sexual predator who should be held accountable for his actions, but I worry about seeing him convicted for sexual assault claims by women who readily admit having consensual sex with him AFTER the events in which he allegedly forced himself on them.
Either they were assaulted against their will or they weren't, but I don't think it's reasonable to believe a woman who says the first time she had sex with him it was forced, but the next three or four times were consensual. How does that work?
Again, as much as I dislike everything about Weinstein, if a woman agrees to have sex with someone in power in order to further their career, she should take responsibility for that decision, no matter how distasteful or disgusting it may have felt to partake in that strategy, and regardless of how it may look to friends, family, or colleagues to have made that calculated decision.
Women are not children, and we shouldn't treat them like children who are incapable of making adult decisions for themselves. Any woman (or man) who decides to sleep with someone in power in order to garner some advantage is responsible for that decision, and it doesn't strike me as reasonable to come back years later and complain.
BTW, I completely understand situations in which a woman doesn't report an assault until a year or two later, but I don't understand going back to the perpetrator for more sex after the alleged assault.
195
@Bill Question, are you implying that if the first encounter was unwanted and forced that the following consensual encounters diminishes the first unwanted encounter? I personally feel that if any encounter is forced it should be prosecuted. The time the perpetrator made the unwanted advance onto his victim, it was a crime. Looking at the following events shouldn't discount the first.
93
It is more common and more complicated than you can presently imagine. I recommend reading the testimonies and stories of women and men who continued relationships in various forms after initial assaults. It can be as basic as trying to normalize what happened, of not wanting to feel like a victim, of trying to reframe a traumatic incident. I can’t even list all the reasons. Don’t forget, people will also stay with physically abusive partners after the first assault and reframe the abuse as love, as not so bad. The human mind is complex.
211
@Bill Committing an act of rape followed by a contentful act another time are absolutely not mutually exclusive. I am not sure why this is such a confusing concept?
208
Glad justice was served, but I'm confused as to why these women continued to have consensual sexual relationships with a man who assaulted them. If the #MeToo movement is to move forward a good thing would be for victims to not return to their awful assaulters and immediately go to the police. That said, I'm glad for the verdicts.
109
@TRS Many people continue relationships of all kinds with predators who abuse them. There are a lot of articles and scientific journal articles on the phenomenon. Humans are complicated.
143
@TRS He was a powerful man who promised to further their careers in a very competitive and closed industry. I think he also gaslighted them.
99
@TRS Yes, it is counterintuitive and many might be confused until they are educated about the psychology of trauma. However, there are real psychological reasons why victims sometimes do this - some examples: it can feel like a way of "undoing" the rape or of diminishing the value of what was taken from them by disconnecting from their sexual selves (dissociation).
I am sure forensic expert Dr. Barbara Ziv explained much of this in her powerpoint for the jury (which they requested during deliberations). Did you know Dr. Ziv is currently hospitalized with multiple broken bones after being hit by a car? Shortly after testifying and explaining things like this to the jury?
Also, immediately going to the police is what many of his victims did, and got no real assistance from them at the time. We need to keep the focus on what the perpetrators did, not on what the victims did or did not do.
213
Donna Rutonno provided what, under our system, even the most despicable among us are entitled: legal representation. Cruelly demeaning victims, though, is not legal argument. It is slander for effect. She’s already a pariah is some quarters. I’m sure she’s crying all the way to her bank.
1
Learned helplessness is a real result of being abused and assaulted especially if there is some social or official connection between the party's.
Gaslighting is real. It is pretty much the basis of the movie business.
Much of our entertainment culture is a kind of grooming. Some explicit some not so obvious.
Vulnerable people who seem to be able to function well as adults are real and fairly common. Those who seek them to prey on them are also common.
We should all learn to see and speak of these things openly.
1
In the continuing nightmare saga of President Pardon your friends and other birds-of-a-feather, I expect to hear that Harvey, a great man, as you know, was treated very unfairly and as the chief law enforcement officer in the country, we going to look at this very strongly, but I don't get involved.
2
While Weinstein looks like a creep and likely was, I have to say I am disturbed by the voluntary sex afterwards aspect from some of the women.
It needs to be ruled out that none of these accusing women are having it both ways for the #MeToo movement to find a Martin Luther King like moment to truly take off.
3
The use of the Walker reminded me of Ted Kennedy’s neck brace in court. It’s a shame that he likely won’t get a very long sentence for the conviction, but I hope he gets more time with additional charges pending.
2
May Harvey Weinstein live a long, long time, in misery in his prison cell.
6
he faces trial in Calif next. more prison time. good.
2
I understand and sympathize with those of you who were offended by Weinstein's lawyer's comments.
On the other hand, Donna Rotunno was being a good lawyer.
Lawyers know what that means.
3
I welcomed the ironic "Perry Mason" moment in the defense attorney Rotunno's brilliant synopsis confession: "Harvey is very strong. He took it like a man. He knows this is not over.”
Yep, he used the strength of his power to take what he wanted, "like a man", and his consequences are far from over.
In a world now with a bit more respect for women, it is not enough to tap one's cane three times saying "but, I'm innocent", we cannot ride that gaslit balloon back to that land of toxic masculinity.
Thank you to the many brave women who came forward.
13
@Phil M The ''Perry Mason moments'' were the ones in which he brought in surprise witnesses or evidence. ''He took it like a man'' had nothing to do with that.
3
If this deters one person from being a victim of assault or rape, it would be worth it a hundred fold.
3
"He took it like a man"
Wow, what a ironic statement...
12
@Jeremy And sorry for the typo. I had originally written "moronic statement" but changed it and posted without changing the article to "an"...
In any case, I hope he likes his view from Riker's
Unbelievable comment by Ms Rotunno saying she had never been sexually assaulted "because I would never put myself in that position". You, Ms. Rotunno have been lucky.
I was asleep when someone broke in, placed a hand over my mouth and then attempted to rape me, I believe my shrieking and kicking caused him to flee. My first reaction? Shame and guilt that I had done something to cause this. It was dark and I never would have been able to identify the person. It is an experience that has never left me 40 years later. Police were called. I have never slept the same since this happened.
Ms. Rotunno, you an affront to all victims of assault.
Your client Weinstein does not warrant a comment.
23
@tessa Agreed. But you commented anyway.
Using a walker, and requiring an ambulance. The old molester doesn't miss a trick, does he?
10
@Steve Acho Neither do the greedy women. They are always on mark!
1
What a creepy man. Is it really consensual if the consequences of saying no is to have your career go down the drain?
I guess that means that every boss who pressures employees to have sex is in the clear if the employee says no, and then never receives a raise or promotion ever again.
Weinstein's walker is all an act to try to qualify for a lighter sentence. Off to prison with him, preferably in the general population.
7
@RM I guess that someone thinking they understand a situation and failing at navigating it became a problem that became our problem. I'm tired of people playing a game of trying to play a powerful person, taking the gambit, failing and complaining afterwards. That's not anyone's problem but their own.
2
There are times in a person’s life when they should not speak. Can I suggest this is one of those times in Ms Rotunno’s life?
6
@Concerned Maybe. But then she wouldn't be doing her job, would she ?
A cursory look Harvey Weinstein reveals a glutton and a lecher, a man who knew no boundaries and had no sense of self. He could have had a wildly successful career, life, business, and all the women who willingly wanted to be with him, had he just shown a little self-control. It's like no one taught him that if a woman wants to be with you, she will let you know. Instead he devolved into a groper and a rapist. He never needed to take care of his body and project a single measure of attractiveness and poise. He had the power, and women needed to bend to his will.
I'd watched a dozen Miramax films and never knew who was behind the company, yet they did good work. I generally looked forward to enjoying the movie. The 1990s were full of films the pushed boundaries with edgier sex, themes, and violence. From "Pulp Fiction", "Bound", to "Henry and June", audiences peered into a new worlds. That's kinda like the edgy world where Harvey made himself a lord in a niche castle. In an industry full of whim, bias, and connections these women walked into his Venus flytrap. His later acts of accosting and groping women not in the trade, like that reporter at Cipriani's, cements how his sense of power had grown.
Months before the exposé on Harvey broke, I sat with my nephew and we went over 'Brock the Rapist', the Steubenville, OH footballers, and even how to treat women on the subway. You have to start early and be consistent in your lessons.
7
@kenneth Marcos didnt convict HW, a jury of his peers did after careful consideration of facts. if you know some facts that were not revealed in the courtroom, you should have volunteered to be a witness
2
@Marcos Mota Generally speaing, conviction requires more than ''a cursory look.''
Ms. Rotunno certainly does not understand the dynamic between a powerful insistent man and a vulnerable 20 year old girl. No, its much more complicated than simply saying no or walking away as some did. These cases are rape pure and simple.
7
Present day hashtag me too overreaching byproduct, as a potential juror minus forcible rape evidence, reasonable doubt attaching therefore not convicting; jury nullifying untill equilibrium not hysterical emotionalism prevailing.
1
@Sean Excellent word salad. Pass the vinaigrette please!
9
@beth
Exhibit A emotionalism minus reasoning prevailing via gender “studies” pablum.☺️
1
Weinstein was convicted only on 2 of the charges for which he was on trial, each was for a specific act against each of 2 women.
The other 4 women made accusations of other acts which they describe as criminal. However, Weinstein was not on trial for any of those acts or for any other acts against those other women.
For the 2 charges that he was convicted of, the ONLY evidence for each was the mere accusation by one person only. No eyewitnesses were introduced. No physical evidence was introduced. No evidence which actually corroborates the acts which constitute those 2 charges was introduced. Just mere accusation by a single person, no other evidence that he did those specific acts
Weinstein is a detested man. Perhaps he did all the things that many people accuse. Perhaps he did even more that no one has publicly accused...yet. But he was convicted only for those 2 acts against those 2 women. And, in both cases, he was convicted and will be imprisoned despite that there was nothing but the mere accusation of a single person without any supporting evidence
Imprisoning men upon mere accusation of a single woman pleases legions of women as comments in these pages amply display. But the individual liberty of everyone is in extreme peril when a single accuser can cause the imprisonment of a person without needing even a shred of actual supporting evidence. Of course, it appears that women only want this destruction of liberty when it is a woman accusing a man.
4
The jury found the women credible, that's enough. He could have testified and subjected himself to cross examination like they did. The jury may have believed him had he done so. He was too cowardly for that.
4
And now Mr. Weinstein will get to know for himself what it's like to be in a place where "no" is not an option.
12
This explains some of why this keeps happening. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/01/20/how-far-can-abused-women-go-to-protect-themselves
“He took it like a man” is an insult to good men.
12
How is it that Weinstein goes right to jail but not Stone? State versus federal?
3
Could there possibly be some karma for Harvey inside the prison walls- it's doubtful he's feeling any guilt from the sentencing today.
@mainesummers: that is an evil thought. I wish people would stop expressing this sentiment. Abuse in jails is a wicked problem, not part of the sentence. As long as this is treated as a joke, there will be less motivation to fix the problem. And of course, the ones who get abused are almost always the ones at the bottom of the heap, not the rich and/or powerful.
6
Ms. Rotunno said that she had never been sexually assaulted “because I would never put myself in that position.” ANY woman might find herself in a position to be sexually assaulted, simply by being alive, Ms. Rotunno. You’ve been fortunate not to find that out firsthand. Until then, take it from those of us who know better. Being assaulted is not about putting yourself in to a “position,” it’s about power.
8
People, can we please get rid of these Medieval concept like:
- She asked for it.
- Why didn’t she say something sooner?
- Why didn’t she leave?
Wake up and stop blaming the victims!
21
His lawyer said he is strong and took it like a man - what does that even mean? She really doesn't get it...
14
Took it like a man?? He had a meltdown and gibbered that he was innocent - which is absurd. If it wasn’t for the statute of limitations and high priced unethical lawyers he would die in jail.
13
The lawyer missed the boat when the cheesy walker with the tennis ball brakes was exposed as a tacky and obvious plea for sympathy .She then somehow saw that a proper middle class walker appeared. And no one commented. (I did).
Now the bent, limping and guilty "old man" rides to Riker's in an ambulance. Boo hoo.
How long will it be until POTUS pardons him?
I despair. Again.
May I add that the "back problems" could be the result of his life long hobby? You know like smoking and emphysema?
4
Still takes a stadium filled with accusers to get minimal justice in these cases. It is only the slightest progress having taken years. Most raped women don’t know about other victims and suffer alone.
11
Hi lawyer says he took the verdict "like a man." If only he had behaved like an actual man over the last few decades, instead of like an animal.
Although, actually, our fellow animals behave better.
It's hard to know, then, how to describe HW. But "man" he is not.
20
Perfectly said. Thank you.
2
Ms. Rotunno says that she has never been sexually assaulted--because she has never put herself "in that position."
Ms. Rotunno is entirely lacking in imagination, intelligence, or perhaps both.
Note to Ms. Rotunno: I was sexually assaulted as a teenager by my boss while working in a gas station. I had just taken a customer's money. The customer walked out of the door. My boss then came out from the back room and attacked me.
Tell me, Ms. Rotunno: what position was it that I "put myself" in? Working my way through college? Was that my mistake?
36
@EB She's his DEFENSE lawyer. Did you expect her to say ''Throw the book at him'' ?
1
Attorney Arthur Aidala's comments were appropriate: Weinstein kept saying, "but I'm innocent." That's what one expects a solid defense attorney to say.
But did attorney Rutonno really say that Weinstein "took it like a man"? What an insulting, unnecessarily gendered, tone-deaf thing to say (especially given the facts and circumstances of her client's case). Just as Weinstein didn't get it, apparently neither does Rutonno.
Additionally insulting is her comment that she has never been sexually assaulted because she had never "put herself in that position." This is textbook, intellectually indefensible "blame the victim" thinking and language. Shame.
21
@Wayne Anderson What do you have against textbooks .....
So he traded in his sudden walker for an ambulance now. Did he at least finally decide he can shave?
7
As a film nerd who detested Harvey Weinstein long before he started making headlines, I think his epic downfall is just beautiful
9
Finally. A guilty verdict. And we have many brave women to thank. And thank them I do, because I too have been there.
But really, why did it take so long? Because as with Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein was protected by his wealth, his gender and his privilege.
Women had been speaking about it for years.
Some only to themselves, having been silenced by the predator.
Others quietly, having been shamed by the predator.
Others to authorities, too often not believed.
Others publicly, then torn to shreds on social media.
Why?
Because women are not valued in the same way men are.
It’s time to change the value structure. It’s time to –
Respect women equally.
Believe women equally.
Educate women equally.
Pay women equally.
Promote women equally.
Protect women equally.
Value women equally.
13
"He took it like a man" said Ms. Rutonno, and by doing so she laid bare her own belief system, it's assumptions, biases and inability to understand how her behavior and statements will be considered. Appalling is too kind of a word.
31
Dear Lawyer Rutonno, I was sexually assaulted by a mentally ill teenager, the son of a friend. I was a 61-year-old grandmother at the time and guess what the kid's filthy rich parents told me? "Report our son and we will destroy your life." Now my friends are in the Harvey Weinstein income bracket. I am a retired RN. Not a doubt in my mind they would hire a beast such as yourself. My hope is you evolve into something resembling a human being.
42
@Jazzmani I read this and your other comment and am so sorry to hear this. It makes it all the more difficult when the offender is a mentally ill teenager, which mine also was. I have had therapy for so many years and it’s still hard. We are in this struggle together. Peace to you.
16
One very important aspect of this case that isn't getting the publicity it deserves is the statue of limitations on sexual assault. Such laws only protect sexual predators. And if you think that after a certain length of time if the victim hasn't spoken up against a high profile individual then they have no credibility, I have two words for you - pedophile priest.
20
Considering his fame as a producer it would be a huge opportunity for Mr.Weinstein to not abandon his profession: a reality show with him as an inmate in a women's prison would be better than "Orange is the New Black."
2
Well let’s see who in prison is going to be paid off to kill him just like they did Epstein . The inmates whose family can get away with it we have a prison system that is nothing more than a mid evil torture chamber because punishment and cruelty is important. To Americans That’s why we have children in concentration camps at the border
It’s sad that Vance who wouldn’t take these cases years ago today tells us it’s a new day
Vance and the legal system was a major problem on why these cases never moved forward , now he acts like he is all for justice.
If we wait for justice with this legal cast of characters justice would still be on a very slow boat.
6
“For many, the trial was a crucial test in the effort to hold powerful men accountable for sexual harassment in the workplace.” More than the proverbial poetic justice for millions. I can name one: Victor Rocha; he might still be alive. The year 1987. One read these stories and the distressing memories just surface. A medical doctor clearly spelled out what his harassment might do to my mental and emotional sanity and advised me to ask for a leave of absence until he would left the powerful position. I did that. Lucky me, I could do that. Thank you Dr. Manuel Pizarro Flores!
4
I wonder if Harvey really believes he did nothing wrong; that his behavior is somehow “normal”. Or if he was just shocked he’s really going to prison?
And his attorney, is disgusting. She has never been sexually assaulted because she would never put herself in that position? Have some dignity, woman.
28
@Lillie
Perhaps Harvey is just mimicking Trump: "I didn't do anything wrong."
1
"You can’t just have it both ways and say, ‘I should be able to do whatever I want without consequences,’” Ms Rotunno said. That's the most brazen and ludicrous comment I've ever read. Until Trump tops it later.
15
There is some justice in this verdict and for that we can thank the women brave enough to bring their stories to the public. But Cy Vance jumping on the bandwagon here is galling. This is a DA who declined to bring a suit against Mr. Weinstein the first time it was directly brought to his attention. And he has the suspicious habit of accepting "campaign contributions" from people with imminent legal proceedings in New York, including Weinstein and of course Mr. Trump. Does that sound illegal to you? #MeToo
13
“It’s absolutely horrible for me to watch my client taken into custody,” she said. “Harvey is very strong. He took it like a man. He knows this is not over.”
Good for him. Once he gets to general population, he will be taking it like a man the rest of his days.
21
Nice to see charges happening in LA too - you don't just get one sentence for one crime, he raped many women, each of those is it's own crime.
4
As a woman I feel so grateful to all these courageous women who came forward. They will need courage still as their life goes on. I feel grateful too because he also bullied scores of men who were part of his staff, as well as people outside whom he forced by some means to uphold his truth.
9
As a woman I feel so grateful to all these courageous women who came forward. They will need courage still as their life goes on. I feel grateful too because he also bullied scores of men who were part of his staff, as well as people outside whom he forced by some means to uphold his truth.
1
I hope he doesn't die. He needs to live his rest of the life in a prison and realize his misdeeds.
5
Oh please. He left in an AMBULANCE??? This is the guy whose lawyers asked for house arrest. You don't have an ambulance for house arrest.
And, BTW, was that a PRIVATE ambulance, or a city ambulance?
13
Hopefully, he is paying for his own ambulance ride and not the tax payer.
Perhaps his ride out of there will be in a blacker vehicle.
7
I find Ms. Rutonno's comment that she had never been sexually assaulted because she had never "put herself in that position" to be specious at best and insulting at worst. It implies that women who are sexually assaulted are somehow complicit in their victimization and that they could have and should have prevented the assault. The only person who is responsible for criminal behavior is the criminal. In what other crime do we consider whether a victim is at fault for putting themselves in "that position"? A man who is robbed at gunpoint? Someone who is murdered? I think not. It's also a complete fallacy of logic and the law that consensual sex under one circumstance indicates that all sex with that person is consensual. This man held a great deal of power over the careers and livelihood of these women and also used women in his employ to deceive reluctant women to meet with him. He is a sexual predator who is being accountable for the first time in his life and rather than questioning the behavior of women who had sex with him more than one time, I suggest that we focus on his repetitive behavior.
177
@JoAnn Brown LCSW
What you have said is entirely consistent with your experience. In my day we first called it "Resolving cognitive dissonance in favor of the one with the power." Then a little later we learned to call it "identification with the aggressor." Later we learned to call it "Stockholm syndrome." No matter what generational term we called it, it is still the same: survival by dissociation because it is either that or be destroyed. Thank goodness at least a few people have the imagination and the technical capability of empathy so that they need not undergo it personally before they understand it and know that it is not a contradiction and therefore some sort of lie.
18
@marek pyka
“...survival by dissociation because it is either that or be destroyed.”
I wonder how many times we do that in life, in other circumstances, for other traumatic events...
Well, if Miramax has a sick culture that exploited women, it likely was known, why did these or other women go for Miramax as a career option? Why did they just not exclude Weinstein or even Hollywood if it came down to it? Perhaps this is what Ms Rutonno meant.
Ms Rutonno studied and became a successful lawyer, and not go for the swamp that is Hollywood.
What happened at Fox. I think of Megan Kelly and other females. Evidently they were promoted. And they kept working.
1
I strongly believe in the defense function and would never criticize any lawyer simply for representing someone -- no matter how much the client may be despised. Everyone deserves a lawyer. The importance of an independent, fair system of criminal justice has recently been highlighted by Trump's and Barr's efforts to destroy that system.
However, the statement by Ms. Rotunno that she has never been sexually assaulted because she would "never put herself in that position" is deeply offensive and ignorant.
35
For everyone who is so confused as to why the women would continue to have a relationship after being raped. I can offer this. Almost thirty years ago, my rapist fully confessed, expressed remorse and went to jail. I recognize that puts me in a very “lucky” minority of victims. But I will still, on my bad days, deny to myself that it even happened in the first place, even though it altered the course of my entire life. The human mind deals with trauma in mysterious ways. This is a good day but I’m still so greatly disturbed and confused by what happened that I could barely write this comment.
141
@UpperEastSider Same here. I was assaulted at 61 years of age and by a teenager. I still try to tell myself that because "I've had a lifetime of social work, and nursing, etc. it didn't happen.."...but it did and I cannot fully grasp it in my head.
29
Amen, sister. Me too.
14
Be well UpperEastSide!
We’re rooting for you!
4
Oh the drama. If any of it is true, it goes to show you how weak he is.
Here's to the strength of the survivors.
5
The arrogance, of Ms. Rotunno is disgusting. She says, she was never sexually assaulted, "Because I would never put myself in that position".
By her remarks she is condemning any woman, who has been sexually assaulted, as being responsible for their own assault.
Many women , including Mr. Weinstein's victims, thought they were having a professional meeting with an individual who would help their career. But as a physically strong sexual predator, it was too easy for him to lock a door, and assault these women.
Shame on Ms. Rotunno.
19
One day when women are 51 percent in power for a change.....maybe a lot less predators like Weinstein.
4
Weinstein, Cosby, Epstein and those who approvingly associated with them knowing what was going on……….
Bet a whole lot of bad "actors" are laying very low………..
Who's up next?………...
3
@RB its nice to know that all the men who have contributed to this article are such pure thinkers, so holy that they would never glance at a woman, even their wives. Admirable. Mind you that Cosby was something else!
Nicholas Kristof last summer reported a University of Chicago professor (specializing in, of all things, "moral development") had similarly preyed upon a doctoral student of his, leading to derailment of her career. In Kristof's account, the University's President Zimmer has validated the claims, though no formal confirmation or litigation occurred; the University granted a PhD decades after the fact based on what the woman subsequently published as a non-academic.
It was a shocking report-- shocking not least because so much was left vague about the University's admission or acceptance of responsibility. Also shocking of course is the fact that a professor specializing in "moral development" (presumably in the psychology department) at "The Teacher of Teachers" (as the University of Chicago is widely known) not only could be guilty of this, but was responsible for teaching moral development to generations directly and indirectly.
I would ask Mr., Kristof to flesh this out, connect the dots. There has been something going on in our culture that connects Weinstein, Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and that University of Chicago story that needs to be clarified if we are to learn and grow. Clearly, it is an increasing societal unsqueamishness about the abuse of power, as the recent senate verdict confirmed.
10
@somebody I think a big piece of this is the fact that women have become financially independent and equal (in many ways) to the kinds of men who are used to having complete control of everything. They are threatened by women and are attempting to assert their superiority.
There must be a certain personality profile of men who do this, including the current occupant of the WH.
4
@beth
I agree! Btw, I hate to ask this-- I have a cousin Beth in Princeton that I've been out of touch with. Probably not you (2 daughters, E. & S.); if it is, please say so; I'll get in touch. In any case thanks for the response which I think is spot-on.
@somebody Hey, not me (no kids!) but use this as an excuse to reconnect with her anyway!
1
This case gets far more news coverage and attention than it deserves.
4
Many of these responses underline the fact that many people are both confused about what is consensual or nonconsensual sex; that they don't understand the role power often plays in these situations, that they assume that victims are in a position to make rational, common sense decisions in power balance situations, and more. Sexual behavior is one of the most confusing areas of human behavior and when it is wrapped up with unequal power relations untangling what it means becomes even harder. This man was in a position that gave him "open season" on a wider range of employees and people who needed his approval. This is horrible stuff waiting to happen.
12
Perhaps I can offer an woman’s point of view as an explanation as to why the women who said they had consensual sex with H.W. after claiming they were first raped by him. The women were already defiled and humiliated by him during the initial rape. Why not turn it around and get something out of it besides hurt? Women often try to take control in sexual relationships to regain a sense of agency or control over the situation and their lives. You would have had to walk in their shoes to understand.
33
@Jean Could you offer a man's point of view?
Many have asked why some of Weinstein’s victims returned to have consensual sex with Weinstein after the initial rape?
Is it because he had established contractual power over the women that he was able to use to coerce and exploit them? He had them convinced that he owned their contracts and their career success and that he would void their contracts unless they complied with him sexually? He used fraud to extort sex from the women?
9
@tony: If the women felt they weren't in a position to refuse, I wouldn't call that consensual sex.
3
I found it an interesting choice of words (if not insensitive), that the defense attorney said that her client “took it as a man”. The victims were also very strong, they took it as a woman.
57
Her lawyer today said Weinstein "took it like a man."
Maybe next time he'll ask.
46
@Bruce
It was HIS lawyer who said that...ironic.
hiS
1
The jury foreman said it was you long. Is that why they came back with a guilty verdict the day after they were sent back from being a hung jury. Were the not guilty jutors pressured by the judge and the other jurors.
4
@Sydney Kaye
They had already reached these verdicts when they said they were deadlocked on the one they ended up not convicting him on.
9
I hope the prison guards keep an eye on Weinstein so he doesn't end up like Jeffrey Epstein. He richly deserves to serve his sentence.
17
@Acey
I find it highly unlikely that Epstein took his own life. He knew too much about all the big guys, and his injuries were not consistent with those of a suicide.
16
@Acey
I was quietly theorizing to myself that the judge wanted the staff to get a read on his actual level of disability to inform the sentencing decisions.
2
@Ann Totally agree. The truth may never be known but the story of the death is preposterous.
2
The only thing worse than Harvey Weinstein proclaiming his "Innocence" after a long career of treating women as objects to assault, manipulate, and coerce sexually, is hearing his disgusting lawyer brag about how she hadn't been sexually assaulted. "Because I would never put myself in that situation.". Really? Ms. Rotunno desperately needs to educate herself on basic facts about rape, sexual assault, and the predatory behaviors of rapists. The basic rule of rape is that rapists don't exactly ask their victims if they would like to be raped, or give them a heads up.."guess what, I'm planning on raping you at your job interview tomorrow, just letting you know in advance.". Ms. Rotunno, you are a shame and an embarrassment to women and the legal profession. Harvey Weinstein, you know exactly what and who you are. Both of you: your time has come.
45
Will someone explain to me how a women could continue to see him and have sex with him after the fact?
Is it like Stockholm syndrome? The guy appears to be a creep for sure but it seems the jury struggled a bit.
5
@Lunar:
I think you need to be in the shoes of the victim. But, ask yourself this: Why do battered women go back to their husbands? Think about it.
6
Harvey may have been a successful producer, but he’s not an actor. If you try using a walker as a prop to elicit sympathy, first try adjusting it correctly so or it looks plausible. Weinstein left the handles set far too high so he’d look stooped while using it. Anyone who has actually needed and used a walker knows the handles have to be raised to straighten up the body so walking is more comfortable. Then there’s the small matter of his “limp” which seemed to move randomly from one leg to the other and periodically morphed into a shuffle.
Pathetic, but not in any way that might elicit any real sympathy.
28
@Archibald McDougall: The more stooped he appears, the more fragile people might perceive him.
2
Absolutely true
If he had any physical therapy after surgery I am sure his physical therapist is screaming at the TV at the site of him grossly misusing that walker
4
In his own fabulous words, "This is how things are done."
8
I'm only going to make two comment about this. One: IF a person of ANY gender goes to a hotel room where a single person is staying and you don't know why you're going there or for what then I have ZERO sympathy for you. If I were to go to a person's hotel room in the evening, I know full well why I'm going. Two: IF a person of any gender claims to have been assaulted and then afterwards, for ANY reason, has admittedly consensual intimacy with that person the WHATEVER claim you THINK you had before becomes IMMEDIATELY null and void. It absolutely belies common sense that you claim abuse and later ACTIVELY send your contact info and admit consensual sex. That's a TRAVESTY and SLANDER on the part of the person making the allegation. FULL STOP.
11
In life there is only one FULL STOP. That you don’t understand a person’s behavior doesn’t mean that it is incomprehensible.
9
@ManhattanWilliam Yes somebody is not telling the truth. No sane person would continue a relationship after a previous assault.
3
Well, folks, consider yourselves lucky that your mind has never had to struggle to integrate a trauma, which does not always conform to “common sense” or all of your ABSOLUTES. Have some compassion and do a little reading on the psychology of trauma survivors. FULL STOP.
2
Congratulations to the Manhattan DA’s office. Enough credit cannot be given to the people who prosecuted this case.
5
Wow! Everyone is a trained psychiatrist here and, by the way, only a woman can understand what it's like to be manipulated. No thank you.
I'll save my sympathy for real victims who did not have the maturity or wherewithal to understand that they were being manipulated. The greedy ones fell into their own trap and they don't concern me.
5
I guess he too ,will soon be claiming he's a "political prisoner." When will trump pardon him?
4
Not fair! Harvey has a right to bail until his eventual sentencing just like any citizen caught up in a mob induced frenzy of revenge for this or that perceived wrong. His law firm is appealing the verdict and the judge and jury, prosecution...This moment!
7
Revenge? So you do think he is guilty? He is a very wealthy man and he is a clear flight risk. He should be locked up and never be allowed to be alone with any woman for the rest if his life.
To read that Harvey's lawyer said, "He took it like a man..." wow. Just wow. Tone deaf to say the least.
9
@Steve R when I see all these men backing these empowering women's movements, I can't understand it.
Every married man knows who's the boss in the relationship, and it isn't them. Men can't make a move without it being misconstrued. We really need to empower men.
3
It will be interesting to see what kind of sentence Weinstein receives. Maybe he can learn from Roger Stone. If there's a Barr behind you, you'll spend less time behind bars.
7
“He took it like a man.” Guessing, his defense counsel doesn’t see the irony in that comment. Also guessing, his physical infirmity, such as it is, magically heals post verdict. Hoping, and glad, that he will likely rot in jail. Kudos to the strong women, their advocates and the larger movement.
13
The time for cleansing, high-fiving, and even gloating is now, but very soon we'll need to pick ourselves up, congratulate ourselves, and realize that we, all of us, can build a much better 'Hollywood' than the one Weinstein knew, and helped create. As Frederick Douglass said, "A chain has two ends and it holds down both the master and the slave".
What a wonderful opportunity to move forward!
6
Let's see now, that's one down and how many more to go?
4
Let’s see how this plays out in other male dominated industries.
1
51 senators -yes, including you Susan Collins- disagreed with this verdict, by basically saying "power is to be enjoyed by the powerful."
I'm glad this jury disagreed with those senators and our sleazy, power-abusing president.
18
All should bear in mind how closely the Weinstein matter tracks with Trump's dealings with Mr. Zelensky. "Yes, I'll do this for you, but do us a favor"-- with the party being solicited to do a "favor" in that dynamic of clear conditionality, "quid pro quo," being desperate in such a way that each party knows that the other knows that the other knows that the other knows -- without saying -- about the desperation, which is pure subtext, like the power dynamic itself.
"Please announce an investigation" & "please do this for my body" are just about exactly the same thing: seizing control over another's domain (their body, their own internal policies) they are supposed to have sovereignty over.
As many commenters observe, the coerced party often acts, for various reasons, as if there is consent (Zelensky: "I wasn't being coerced"). That's how coercion works.
In about 2016 the NYT discussing the then-ongoing election mentioned a new book "How Democracies Fail," citing a trend some have observed: "The personalization of power." Those wielding it, in other words, increasingly jettison the idea that power is subject to ethical requirements to be used not for personal gratification or advantage, but strictly for the narrow purposes authorized. In the contemporary trend, that distinction is seen as unreal & old-fashioned; all power - even presidential - is now regarded as personal, just like one's private bank account.
Hence the attitude "power is to be enjoyed by the powerful."
3
It’s a right of passage in Hollywood. It’s an expression of raw political power. It’s historic, and many producers of old did that and worse. I do not excuse it. It’s a cruel business.
13
Sexual predators go beyond Hollywood. They’re in children’s daycare and schools, in family homes, and blue collar jobs. This is not just about Hollywood and wealth, it’s about men expoiting those they feel they have power over and that exploitation and abuse, manipulation and silence, is the ultimate issue.
3
There were plenty of women who had sex with Weinstein, forced or not, who continued with him as if nothing had happened to protect their career. And now they are coming out? Seems very hypocritical to me.
8
Explain why you think it’s hypocritical to not destroy one’s career when a sexual predator has destroyed everything else one holds dear. In your world only those who are caught and convicted are rapists? That’s a luxury women in subordinate roles do not have.
11
That’s why there was a trial. He had the chance to make that argument. See how that works?
9
@Don Juan Manipulative maybe a more apt word
1
When Harvey Weinstein is sentenced I hope the NYT will make a comparison with the sentences of black and white criminals who were convicted of similar crimes. I would not be surprised if he gets a lesser sentence. It seems to me that the richer you are in USA the shorter the sentence for any crime.
14
I have come across several men over the course of time who are basically predatory jerks. Their favorite line is: "Just pop the question; once in a while they'll say yes." Disgusting, sick, repulsive.
7
Perhaps wishful thinking, but it'd be immensely gratifying if he eventually shared a cell with Roger Stone.
12
Heartfelt thanks to the brave women who testified.
I have stood in their shoes. It is terrifying and humiliating.
We got one.
28
"But, I'm innocent."
Funny how predators and bullies tend to see themselves as the victims.
23
@Stephanie Maybe he is innocent. We only have their word against his. Certain charges he was aquitted off.
1
This was a win for the long line of women and girls winding back through time to the first casting couch. May it and the metaphoric "furniture" and baggage of too many boardrooms and offices be put on history's pyre and burned.
Let this be the beginning of the end of the notion that wealthy, connected, male privilege includes "grabbing" whatever they want...including other human beings.
Full credit to the women who had the courage to make this happen. We're all in their debt.
11
I am 100% grateful that a sexual predator has been exposed and convicted. I do find it a bit disconcerting that so many who desire for Weinstein to rot in prison have no idea how cruel and punitive prison life is. At what point do we think in terms of mercy?
4
Not before he says he’s sorry.
4
Did he show mercy to his victims? Those he abused or those he threatened with extinction of their careers if they didn’t comply. I’m all out sympathy for entitled powerful men who seem to think of themselves above the law or above ethics. I’m glad to see justice done.
9
While it will be great if he dies in prison, the things he did that were exquisitely reported by Ronan Farrow that were not part of this trial warrant a sentence like Madoff received; many many years beyond his natural life.
13
“He took it like a man." His lawyer should think before she speaks.
32
His baloney statements about regretting the damage he's done to women comes to light when he says to his lawyer: 'but I'm innocent' as he was found guilty, now he can also return the walker to the studio prop warehouse.
19
Those people who condemn women who are accused of continuing to have sex after Weinstein raped them.......just reminds me of the battered wife or girlfriend. People say why don't you get out of that relationship. These accusers do not know what the dynamic is between the predator and the victim be it a battered female or a helpless female. There is no one simple answer.
16
My dad told me one day: “The ones you step on your way up are the ones you are going to face on your way down”.
I’m pretty sure Weinstein’s dad didn’t tell him that.
18
@A Duncan - Your Father was a wise man.
1
It's so easy to judge from afar, but when one is in an abusive situation that requires you to be submissive and loving to your abuser, it's very complex. You can be trapped financially, unable to just up and leave, there may be young children who will be harmed if you speak out.. `All of these conditions prevented me from exposing the man who devastated my life, destoyed the business I had created over 30 years of hard work.
13
I guess the ‘I’m old, I’m sick, I need a walker act’ didn’t work for this serial predator.
11
“But, I’m innocent,” the producer repeated three times to his lawyers.
I imagine he did a very thorough job of trying to talk himself into believing that. But then he’d have to remember all those people he’d hurt in one way or another.
He’ll have plenty of time to remember them now.
17
@Tombo
Yeah, plenty of time. Something Epstein was NOT granted. Where did those silly surveillance videos go? Wonder who would know?
4
An acquaintance of mine, an attractive woman in her 60s, told me once of a passing encounter with Harvey Weinstein in a Los Angeles restaurant more than 25 years ago.
A young woman came to her table and said that she worked for Harvey Weinstein. She gestured at him, sitting a few tables away. He sat looking at the conversation. "Mr Weinstein would like to have dinner with you." The woman declined and Weinstein's assistant went back to sit with him.
This may have turned out to be an innocent dinner, or it might have ended badly. Weinstein's predations probably went far beyond his assaults on actresses.
27
“Harvey is very strong. He took it like a man.” Yes Ms. Rotunno, that is exactly the point.
24
Ugh that lawyers quote. Yuck. I cannot understand why there is so much sympathy for this man. I really can’t understand breaking down women on the stand who have already been victimized. I hope he goes to prison and we can get on to additional predators out there. There are many.
8
@Julia
“Harvey is very strong. He took it like a man. He knows this is not over.”
Yeah, he looks totally strong, with the phony walker and stubble- "Poor me, look at me- I'm a disheveled, disabled old man. You couldn't send an old cripple (sorry) like me to jail, could you?"
Apparently, they could and they did.
Is the "not over" comment a reference to her next gig, trying to explain away his behavior in Los Angeles?
As a man, I think that this development is several decades past due...
6
"He faces a possible sentence of between five and 29 years."
Does this mean the length of the sentence could possibly be be zero?
3
Finally. We need to think critically about this question of a rape victim that had a consensual relationship with their rapists. How many wives have are raped by their husbands and continue on in the marriage. Until you've walked in our shoes, I suggest everyone stop blaming the victims and be proud that this horrible man will spend some time in jail.
32
Like Ivana Trump, for one. She recanted after Trump threatened her.
2
When will Trump use his self proclaimed executive power to squash the sentence and set him free ? Of course, he has never met him, he thinks, or possibly did, he can't remember, but he seems like a nice man ....
6
Weinstein is a Democrat so I doubt trump cares. Now if Weinstein becomes a republican he just may have a fighting chance.
1
A Certain Someone has a Pardon ready to sign for this guy.
State charges. Not federal.
3
Kudos to all that had the courage to speak with Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey allowing them to break this story.
8
Weinstein was a predator and he is now going to jail.
Unfortunately, some of the women he encountered along the way were just like him.
Greedy, rude and insatiably ambitious.
For money, power and fame.
The Hollywood machine attracts these types of ruthless operators.
Male and female.
Just check your Instagram feed and they will show you who they really are.
12
So you’re saying they deserved to be sexually assaulted because of their alleged personality characteristics?
2
@Andrew I find it remarkable how many people there are out there who choose to ignore the fact that there are some greedy people, both men and women, who surround the Weinstein's of the world seeking to curry favor who cry foul when they're called on it. They fall into a variety of categories ranging from, "Gold Digger" to "Sycophant;" all of them greedy, overweening individuals who engage in such behavior willingly.
3
Big setback for women - I’ll keep my distance from now on. OVERREACH
3
If you are a good man, you have nothing to fear.
31
@Mike DeMaio We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
38
@Mike DeMaio Are you saying that you planning on keeping your distance from women is a “ big setback” for us??
Sure. Okay.
14
"Ms. Mann and Ms. Haley both acknowledged that they continued to see Mr. Weinstein after the alleged assaults and later had consensual sex with him, testimony that complicated the prosecution’s case."
Why should consensual sex complicate the case? Domestic abuse is usually not complicated by the fact that two people are married/family members. Rape is about power, abuse, and violence, not sex.
62
It does not change the fact (I.e., if there was a rape, it does not matter if there was consensual sex at another time.). However, of course it complicates the legal case, as we are essentially stuck with a “he said, she said” situation. The prosecution wanted to show evidence of a pattern of behavior. The defense, too, wanted to show a pattern - of consensual sexual relations.
4
@Mari
Because it does and it is complicated. Hopefully the jury got it right, but in any event they were in a far better position to know than the social media crowd.
1
Why wasn't any sentencing information included? What penalties is he facing and when is the hearing?
32
@Debbie Penetration The information is still coming out. News just said he's going straight to jail.
1
Patience, my dear....patience.
4
The juror or jurors who did not believe he was guilty of predatory sexual assault are guilty of not listening or not caring or simply not understanding the charges. That Mr. Weinstein's behavior and attacks were not all related defies reasonable understanding. Hopefully he will spend many years in prison on the guilty verdicts and more hopefully California will prosecute and find him guilty of the charges that have been filed in that state.
It may take many years for all of the criminal prosecutions against Mr. Weinstein to be brought to a conclusion. In meantime though the women who were abused should be at least partially satisfied the Mr. Weinstein's reign of sexual terror has come to an end. He is being held accountable. And there is more coming his way. He deserves his trials and his forthcoming sentences. Hopefully others who are in positions of power will consider what Weinstein is facing will think before they make criminal sexual advances and demands of women. Beware because justice will be done.
56
But we weren’t in the courtroom on the jury, didn’t see the cases, testimony and evidence presented day after day. It all has to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
At least he was found guilty on two counts, that’s something to celebrate. Even that wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago.
13
It’s not appropriate to blame the jurors for not reaching the popular and desired verdict. I have served on many juries in Los Angeles, including Municipal, Superior and Federal courts. We jurors are not experts in the various fields of law, precedents, or technical language. We hear witness testimony, statements from the prosecution and defense, then deliberate to reach the best conclusions we can in order to deliver a fair verdict. We’re instructed by the judge to to reach those verdicts based on court testimony and evidence and not on our emotions and biases. I commend the jurors in the Weinstein case for their courage. Their job was not a simple one and one not many will ever experience themselves. As a woman, I wouldn’t have wanted to be a juror on his case.
8
@Jack Frost
Apparently you were in the courtroom during the trial? I thought not.
3
Younger women hold sexual power over older men, and older men hold financial power over younger women. Isn't that what's really on trial here?
14
@GP Younger women do not hold power over older men. This is typical blame the victim psychology.
72
@GP
I tried to be nice, but your comment is so skewed by ignorance that it makes my head spin. Do better, as a human.
41
@GP are you insinuating men use power to get sex and women use sex to get power? Shocking!!!
18
Sorry. But my first recall, was Trump telling police to not be so kind to the head of the criminal when putting them in the squad car.
Instead of uplifting our discourse --- must we continue to demean?
Yes, we are learning our lessons, aren't we?
3
May this be a sign of changing times.
I never informed the law about my rape (many years ago) because I knew it would be pointless. I hope that future victims see this case and know that there IS value in going to law enforcement, and that justice WILL be served.
And may every powerful man who has used his power to force himself on a woman know this: you are served notice. It isn't going to work like that anymore. You will be held to account. Your power and privilege no longer protects you. You must follow the law - and human decency - or you will be held to account.
We still have a long way to go, but this is progress.
21
Leaving aside the hideous offenders like Trump, Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein and Judge Roy Moore whose punishments should consist of hard time in jail, there are plenty of alternative punishments that should be considered for lesser offenders whose sex crimes fall short of being capital offenses.
Al Franken, I would have required to sit in an ice hockey penalty box on the floor of the Senate for the remainder of his term.
Bill Clinton, hopeless womanizer that he was, I would have assigned to writing daily letters of apology for the next 20 years to Hillary and Ms. Lewinsky and other women he had wronged, simply in the hope that doing so would keep him busy.
Anthony Weiner, I would have let go on probation because I feel sorry for all men who make ridiculous spectacles of their private part, with the understanding that he would give up politics forever and instead seek a career on late-night TV as a political comic, where I believe his talents would have shined.
There are plenty of other suitable punishments around for sex-obsessed men including cold showers and large monetary fines, some of which may actually do the offender and the offended parties a considerable amount of good.
6
@A. Stanton any degree of assault on girls and women impacts their life greatly. And for that reason, every offence should be held accountable and punished. Women have a birth right to be fearless in their skin and have unbirdled joy in doing whatever they want with confidence . It will take centuries to achieve that goal sadly. But if we get to even systematically start this process, our next generations of women will be the warriors we want them to be.
6
Let it be a max security facility with some bad guys to keep Harvey company in the lock-up. And when the lights go out maybe he'll really find out what it feels like to be abused.
9
Apparently the defense’s dismissal of HW’s decades of sexual criminality as an accepted act in a “transactional relationship” was adopted in some part by the jury. His defense strategy to appoint a women to lead the defense and her victim blaming statement that she would never put herself in “that position” allowed her client to escape his worst crimes. Litigators and jury experts understand that fear of the inability to control the possibility of devastating events happening to you trigger this kind of response. As a society, we might all have better lives if we focused on creating cultures where transactional relationships that prey on women could not arise in the first place.
9
“It’s absolutely horrible for me to watch my client taken into custody,” Ms. Rotunno said. “Harvey is very strong. He took it like a man. He knows this is not over.”
His attorney is atrocious. I bet what these women endured was horrible as well and they had to be very strong out of fear of retaliation and all sorts of things. Her response is appalling but expected. Yikes.
22
What has this world come to when an innocent NDA doesn’t protect a rich, powerful man?
7
An entire industry stood silent (and made a lot of money) while this sick man had his way. I recall how, when Matt Lauer was finally booted from the Today show, some of his coworkers decried how “shocked and saddened” they were. Seriously? The idea that they were unaware is insulting. And the Weinstein stuff was so well known, it had become both accepted fact and legend.
People will have to live with their acquiescence. None of us are perfect, though. It’s easy to point fingers when the stakes have changed, hard to go up against the powerful when the consequences can be dire.
I do like the fact that the guy finally drew his “go directly to jail” card in the Monopoly game of his arrogant and pitiless life.
10
When will Trump get his Harvey Weinstein moment? I understand charges have been file against the so-called president.
13
Now, the state of Illinois should begin disbarrment proceedings against Donna Rotunno. Her behavior in and out of court has been a disgrace to the legal profession. Lawyers like her are the reason that people hate lawyers.
14
Ohhhh ...Ok, I get the walker now ... Harvey is special needs .... So that was in case he did go down... thinkin ahead . Guess good lawyers do that . trump should get himself a wheel chair ... for the days to come . After election 2020.
7
“It’s absolutely horrible for me to watch my client taken into custody,” Ms. Rotunno said. “Harvey is very strong. He took it like a man. He knows this is not over.”
"She was also planning to challenge his immediate detention."
Most defendants accused of serious sexual assaults (some of which carried potential life sentences) would have been sitting in jail from their time of arrest and through the entirety of their trial. Only the very wealthy can avoid pre-trial detention for such high-level criminal accusations.
Mr. Weinstein has now been convicted by a jury of two separate rapes (even though he was acquitted of the most serious offenses). His legal presumption of innocence is gone. Unless his convictions are reversed on appeal, jail is the appropriate place for him.
After years of legal proceedings, your client is in jail, Ms. Rotunno. He at least was among the very few that had the luxury of being free while his very serious case was pending. Release after conviction, pending sentencing and/or appeal, would be a gross miscarriage of justice.
So get over it.
32
This I do not understand: How they can convict on those two counts when this happened ( quoting from NYT article):
"The indictment rested on the accusations of Miriam Haley, a former television production assistant who testified that Mr. Weinstein forced oral sex on her at his Manhattan apartment in 2006; and Jessica Mann, a former aspiring actress, who says he raped her in a Midtown Manhattan hotel room in 2013."
"Ms. Mann and Ms. Haley both acknowledged that they continued to see Mr. Weinstein after the alleged assaults and later had consensual sex with him, testimony that complicated the prosecution’s case."
2
@La Rana And you were not on the jury either.
2
consensual sexual incidents following a criminal rape or criminal sexual assault do not make the criminal acts vanish into thin air!!!!
3
Will he be keeping his silly "walker?"
part of the act
that did not work.
ON to the L.A. trial!
9
And today we also hear news of Jean Vanier’s abuse of women. Powerful men debasing. Too many. Too often. Too little recourse. Sickens the soul.
10
"Ms. Mann and Ms. Haley both acknowledged that they continued to see Mr. Weinstein after the alleged assaults and later had 'consensual' sex with him"
The issue is that as we learn more about consent in this fraught era in the wake of MeToo, we further clarify what "consensual" truly is. Is it consensual when a woman is being blackmailed into "agreeing" to sleep with a powerful person? Is it consensual when a woman feels that if she scorns this man, she will be labeled "difficult" or blackballed? Let's remember everyone knew what Harvey was doing, it was the worst kept secret in town. And they were just as complicit in letting him get away with this. So long as women feel they have no recourse, they wind up "consenting" to things that would not have if not under such duress. Justice was served, but it will take many decades to correct the culture and wrongs of the casting couch.
156
@MK No, a court case took place, but justice was not served. The verdict played down the crimes.
7
@MK I can't imagine the prosecutors speaking for the women did not have a more nuanced argument that makes the "consent" issue less silly sounding. The press, in my view, should have anticipated reader reaction ahead of time and responded accordingly. Weinstein it was known had an army of protectors and enforcers who made a good living making victims think twice before speaking up. Hollywood qua Gomorra, like the Jim Crow south, was allowed to continue with apparent impunity—until it wasn't. We need to know more about how these "consensual encounters" played out.
Every time I had to go to Hollywood for film processing and production services, I came away convinced I had endured a death-wish soul experience with Heart of Darkness. Spending a lot of Alice time wallowing in commoditized imagination is bound to leave marks. If you find your life refuses to turn itself into a novel, you may eventually decide you've done something right.
7
@MK How about correcting the culture of female claims of victimization? What was their part in all of it?
I am especially happy that Weinstein, unlike Stone, is being sent directly to jail. Let him appeal if he's entitled to, but from behind bars, not a 6 bedroom townhouse.
17
I am surprised that Sciorra was found to be the least believable of the three women (Haleyi and Mann being the other two) by one or more jurors. Was it because she didn't cry on the stand as the other women did? I wish the defense had used the same approach as the prosecution in the Amber Guyger trial to shut down any "crying."
For the men who have daughters, like me, I thank the jury. They are a little more safe today than they were yesterday. Now if the congress can ratify the Equal Rights Amendment so that they are granted the same rights that men take for granted we shall truly be on the road to true equality among all people.
19
AMEN Rick! Thank you. Your daughters are surely proud of their great role model Dad.
5
Well, good. I wish we could find as much passionate outrage at the predatory bankers and financiers who are raping our pocketbooks with impunity. Gallons of ink on sex scandals, money misbehavior, not so much.
7
Mr. Weinstein is a grotesque ogre who should never have been allowed to prey on women for so long. He's ruined not only the careers of many, but the lives of even more. His half-hearted attempt at looking infirm is right out of the Bill Cosby playbook, proving that his ego actually had him thinking it would gain some sympathy.
11
Roger Stone is likely to get a longer sentence than Mr. Weinstein.
1
Vance did not charge him when he could, and he advocated a more lenient sentence for Epstein. Gonna ask Santa to bring Vance some morals.
9
Harvey Weinstein is a repulsive man so why would women continue to see him after being raped? Why did they go back to his hotel over and over again. They were not too prudent and used poor judgment. Women must be on their guard today as our mores have changed a lot. Women are not always innocent.
2
No, actually victims are ALWAYS innocent.
11
poor judgment does not imply guilt.
don’t blame the victim.
4
Thank you, Ronan Farrow!!!
30
@Sarah well done Ronan Farrow, salute!
2
Justice lives!
5
Prison + Weinstein = A Better World
6
Just remember all you Liberals out there—Mr Weinstein is one of yours. Isn’t it ironic, how many Liberals—Weinstein, Bill Clinton, Anthony Wiener, and scores of others who claim to be defenders of women’s rights and dignity, turn out to be the worst offenders? Conclusion???...as in most things the Left claims to support, its all just a bunch of empty talking points and virtue signaling.
5
Yes, conservatives never abuse women. At least in your polemics.
6
Another major player within the democratic party bites the dust.
What a bunch of hypocrites.
Good riddance Harvey.
6
Oh, well, one more creepy Democrat mover and shaker locked up in a jail cell. Sure isn't the first, won't be the last.
6
Harvey! Clinton friend and Democrat donor! Ooooops!
6
I am 71 years old and grew up in in ultra conservative Quebec, a place very similar to and possessing the same perverted values as GOP America. Yesterday Jean Vanier 1928-12019 was subject to disclosure of sexual impropriety much like Harvey Weinstein.
Mr Vanier was the brother of one of Canada's most revered and famous Governor Generals.
Mr Vanier was a Catholic philosopher and theologian and famous for establishing L'Arche an international charity that was founded to help people like myself with developmental disabilities.
Mr Vanier's death inspired tributes from people like myself who looked upon his life as one of serving the common good.
Among Mr Vanier's alleged victims were nuns and laywomen who considered Mr Vanier almost a saint. Here in what was in my childhood's conservative Quebec the Vaniers were beyond reproach they were our aristocracy and le droit de Seigneur was A SACRED TRUST.
Power corrupts and I understand or at least I think I understand the moral burden of entitlement. This generation of Quebecers is doing a fine job of understanding all men are created equal.
I remember 1965 when in response to the Civil rights act that forces of progress were placed in opposition to human evolution and the GOP demanded a return to the privileges of wealth and power.
2020 is not about politics it is about what it means to believe in equal justice for all.
8
Good to see a predator freshly convicted of committing horrible crimes being send directly to jail. No house arrest while you appeal the decision, no being let out on bail while your case is appealed for 5-10-15 years. Jail. Let's hope Trump keeps his nose out of this.
9
Where's the evidence other than the word of women that possibly were scorned? If I were a man, I would be very afraid. You could be accused and convicted of raping a woman you dated and go to prison for a long time based on ZERO evidence. And it could happen 30 years after the fact. This should frighten all of you. They need to appeal this decision and send a message. I'm not a fan of Weinstein but I'm a fan of justice where evidence is concerned and not just the word of a person.
4
And Roger Stone isn't also behind bars?
2
please, do not wait five minutes to report sexual abuse even if it means not getting the part.
5
A long time coming.
4
Men must stop using their power to get sex and women must stop using sex to get enviable employment.
6
If Harvey were a Republican, Trump would pardon him later today.
After all, what Weinstein did is not criminal. It's just what you get to do when you're a celebrity. You know, grab 'em.
3
Will he put his walked down now and give that ridiculous act that no one believed? Good riddance.
4
And while we're at it, the Queen should strip him of The Order of the British Empire. He doesn't need that where he's going.
8
For his sentencing hearing, Weinstein will trade his walker for a wheelchair.
5
Straight out of Law & Order SVU.
3
Wasn't it Shakespeare who said 'what's done is done and cannot be undone'? Going back to him and consensual sex after being raped make sense to me. You went to him for what you needed in the first place - a job. After being raped, you still need whatever you needed in the first place. Once he has trashed you and made you feel filthy by rape, what would be the point of not consenting? And no doubt he has gaslighted you, as men do. It is all in your head, you led him on, that is if you dare to object.
Good on Brad Pitt for intervening for Gwgneth Paltrow. What a pity the other women did not have someone to intervene for them.
6
Now he can send that prop walker back to the Mirimax storage shed.
15
I worked in the film business in the early 2000's for six years.
The yelling and bullying and misbehaviour was rampant and, as someone who grew up in the polite Midwest, shocking.
I'm glad Weinstein has gone down. I'm sure there are more of him out there and I hope they're caught and go down as well
22
He’s being sent to jail. Oh my god. I wonder if every survivor of rape, like myself, just had a deep, vicarious sigh of relief.
11
I am in another sector of the entertainment business. These are all very small worlds. I have intersected with many of the same people throughout my 30 year career. Not long ago a person left my company to better his own career - my boss was enraged by the situation. "I'm going to run your career!" was part of the shouting match. And he proceeded to call many like-companies to tell his counterparts not to hire this person. I've wanted to make similar moves but feel trapped. You can only hope to do it with a blessing. Everyone needs each other in our business, no one wants to risk alienating the other.
This is the kind of "choice" that these women had. Not really a choice at all when dealing with one of the, if not the, most powerful men in Hollywood.
14
Well, hallelujah that his wealth is not allowing him to remain free on bail pending sentencing or appeal. Off to jail he goes, walker prop and all.
12
The guilty verdicts are a fitting epilogue to years of abuse against a slew of young, unsophisticated women seeking fame and fortune in Hollywood. Harvey Weinstein held a coveted position of power and influence and used it for unsavory behavior toward female clients, both potential and actual. An appeal is a given, but no matter. He can not hold sway over any more victims and his legacy is one that will be forever ignoble.
122
@pfon71361
One down, multiple more in Hollywood to go.
9
@FXQ Be sure to include the names of the women who, when they thought they could make some gain, jumped tight into the game! Give them due credit for their duplicity!
Acquittal on the predatory counts is a Pyrrhic victory for this ghastly misfit. At sentencing prosecutors are permitted to offer “aggravating evidence” not restricted by the statute of limitations. This will consist of testimony from a sizable and select group of his former sexual assault victims. This will no doubt influence the judge to impose a sentence well above the statutory five year minimum and closer to the twenty-five year maximum. At his age and obvious poor physical health, this man is likely remain incarcerated for the balance of his days.
9
He seemed to be in great health before he was charged.
9
Is that the sound of HR department staff across the nation keyboarding and clicking as they dredge up sexual harassment policies to update—ASAP?
I certainly hope so.
Thank you to all involved: investigate reporters, witnesses, jurors, and especially family and friends of Weinstein’s victims who supported them as they relived some of the most difficult times of their lives.
15
Harvey Weinstein is appropriately going to prison for his actions. Hopefully he will also receive sex addiction treatment, since he obviously has this addiction as well as an addiction of power over others. Otherwise, when and if he returns to society, his behavior will not be changed.
2
I don’t think his behavior is sex addiction. To me, it’s addiction to power. I can only hope he won’t have any power in prison.
6
Ah, justice.
Here's hoping, praying, it catches up to Trump as well.
29
5 to 25 years? It's a good start.
7
May the verdict encourage more women, from all walks of life, to come forward. Great job by the prosecutors on this difficult, important case. Work places across America are a party to this behavior as we speak.
10
I predict one unintended consequence of this trial is that possibly fewer women will be offered jobs in a number of industries...too much risk and too much sensitivities. In fact, California may have anticipated this by enacting a law demanding at least one woman on corporate boards. Nothing was written about competence or skill level. But I could be, and hope I am wrong. Would not be the first time today. Or the last. Is it too early for a Scotch, or too late?
4
@Mark Shyres
It's six o'clock somewhere.
1
This verdict will come as important news to President Trump who -- viewing the harshness of it -- will now feel the need to pardon himself of similar crimes he's not yet been charged with.
13
In these cases you are assumed guilty from the start, a reverse of our system. These women must think about the fact they still used him to advance their career.
3
You ask too much of human nature. It is far less painful for these women who chose to degrade themselves to advance in a very difficult field to view themselves as helpless victims. Granted, Weinstein is a disgusting pig who leveraged his power to make careers to bed woman who would not otherwise give him the time of day. But rape? I am not do sure.
1
@Thomas Renner ...not true. Annabella has not worked for YEARS after he raped her....many women did not. I would guess most...as a matter of fact with some he made sure no one else hired them, so you think about THAT.
2
"Mr. President? There's a 'Harvey' on line 2 - he says you know him ... "
15
Interesting contrast: Harvey Weinstein was immediately remanded into police custody.
Roger Stone, on the other hand, another felon, was released on his own recognizance....
Ain't it great to have friends in high places?
NOT my president
24
Life in prison and park the walker, he obviously doesn’t need!
6
Congratulations to the brave women who came forward and testified against this creep, and to the jury of seven men and five women for not falling for his shamelessly aggressive lawyer tactics and feeble walker routine.
I hope this disgusting predator never sees the light of day outside of a prison again. His victims/accusers are numerous (more than a hundred, to date). I hope this is only the beginning of his long overdue comeuppance.
And to the other men who have abused their position of power to take advantage of women (or men), your time is gonna come.
Hear that White House?
17
When does he put the walker away?
4
I do not understand what I am reading. The state of New York convicted someone without physical evidence, without eyewitness testimony, without police testimony, and without dates and times of the crimes. And when the defense points out that victims continued to see and have sex with the defendant, an expert witness says, "this happens and is to be expected". And when the defense points out that victim does not know the date or time when the crimes were supposed to have occurred, an expert witness says, "this happens and is to be expected".
How in the world does an accused/defendant stand a chance in court? You can't have an alibi because you can't say you weren't there because the victim doesn't have to give a date or time when the crime took place.
There is something wrong with the process
5
I am glad that Weinstein has finally been convicted.
He was no Al Franken - a witty, playful but harmless former Senator. But more of a Kevin Spacey type - a destructive predator.
7
@Gian Piero Messi Franken was so far from being a destructive predator it isn't funny....
1
Even if Harvey Weinstein was nothing great, the reader comment’s scare me more.
6
@David Martin there are a LOT more things you should be afraid of than comments.....
5
Thank you to the courageous women who risked their reputations, their livelihoods and possibly their lives to stand up and testify against this monster.
Thank God, one of these degenerates will go to prison.
6
Why does Harvey Weinstein have to go to jail immediately after the guilty verdict and Roger Stone does not?
10
@Joel H.
tough judge, vs. privileged friendly judge.
1
How many raped women of a rapist does it take to charge a rapist? How many years of trying to be heard after being raped and how many tens of raped women does it take to be believed over the words of the rapist and facilitators of the rapist? Just wondering.
21
The jury's decision to find him guilty of rape based on Jessica Mann's testimony was not necessarily a decision every jury would have reached.
The NYT reported that Jessica Mann testified that she went up to Weinstein's hotel room where Mr. Weinstein demanded she take off her clothes. She protested. He shut the door to the room and blocked her from leaving. Mr. Weinstein disappeared into the bathroom for a moment and returned with an erection and raped her. "You had a choice to walk right out of that hotel room and never see Harvey Weinstein again, isn’t that right?” Ms. Rotunno asked. “That could have been death to any attempt of a career,” Ms. Mann replied.
And so the fact is that the reason she didn't leave the room and instead decided to wait for Weinstein to have sex with her was because if she did not "that could have been death to any attempt of a career". Mann also told the jury that she had consensual sex with Weinstein several times over the prior weeks. Now it is reasonable to assume that Weinstein believed she was still interested in having sex with him, and he did not threaten her with ending her career if she told him she didn't want to take her clothes off or walk out the door.
So 1. the idea that he used the threat of ending her career to force her to have sex with him may have been all in her head, and 2 telling a woman she will lose her career if she doesn't agree to have sex is not rape which requires the use of force and in this case she agreed.
3
@Michael Stavsen
The final straw for me with Jessica Mann's story was when she offered to introduce Weinstein to her mother.
2
Anyone who knows Harvey knows this was NOT
#metoo run amok. He's very fortunate that he only convicted on two counts.
I met him on a couples of occasions and thought he was a disgusting little man whose minor talents stretched too far. He got what he deserved.
15
Glad this trial is over. Harvey is done for and will die in jail.
8
Now throw away the key to his jail cell.
5
I'm glad to hear hear Weistein was found guilty of at least some of his heinous crimes. My guess, though, is that he will get a get-out-of-jail-for-future-favors card from our current "President."
3
What's the difference between Harvey Weinstein and Donald trump. Harvey Weinstein is going to prison for doing the same things.
11
Sorry, but I absolutely agree with the defense that these women did engage in consensual sex with Weinstein, but when their careers didn't take off like they assumed, it suddenly became rape. I find it very hard to swallow that not one of the alleged victims didn't so much as file a police report until years later, after the MeToo movement permeated the culture.
Weinstein absolutely should not have been sleeping with these women, but that goes both ways.
4
Selma Hayeks career didn't take off?
2
No pardons here. Trump is not stupid. He may act like it, but he isn't. TWC ("The Weinstein Corporation") is gone for good. Hopefully, so is Harvey Weinstein.
1
To the actress Meryl Streep: what do you think of your god now?
9
@retiree i know, right? shame on her and all the others who knew for decades about this creep's activities.
6
If it didn’t hurt her directly, she doesn’t care...?
1
I'm sure a pardon will be issued by "you know who" while stating how unfair the process was.
2
@Geoff Under the US Constitution, only federal criminal convictions may be pardoned by the President. The President of the US cannot pardon a state criminal offense.
6
@Politically involved ...oh, didn't you hear? this so called Pres can do whatever the heck he wants.....
2
If I were one of the assault victims, I would see this as the jury believing the perpetrator over those most victimized.
I would be furious.
2
@George Kamburoff i agree. it wasn't so much they believed the pig over the assaulted women, it was that defense that twisted things to their advantage and that's called lawyering.
These women, all of them, are heroes. As important as Harriett Tubman, Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, and Florence Nightingale. They have taken the first steps towards changing a culture of deeply embedded beliefs and practices in the all encompassing entertainment industry. The abuses and criminal behavior practiced routinely and repeatedly by Mr. Weinstein could not have gone on, as long as they did, without the wilful complicity of others in the industry who benefited from remaining silent. The industry producers, directors, agents, studio heads, crew people and talent who said nothing. But knew. So, where they may have escaped responsibility and punishment to date, they are on notice. This type of exploitation and victimization are over. No matter how much money is involved. In my opinion there needs to be a Board of Reconciliation set up where people can come forward and take responsibility and ask for forgiveness. Harvey Weinstein is just the tip of the iceberg.
8
Lock.Him.Up.
His abuse is inexcusable.
6
The real "watershed moment" for the #MeToo movement is actually being reached in the ongoing commemoration of the life of Kobe Bryant, murals of whom are being painted on public walls in L.A. among other activities, but whose own admission of the possibility of sexual misconduct gets shouted down in the media when mentioned. Although I actually agree with the concept of being respectful to the memory of someone who has just died tragically, this reaction does prove that the #MeToo movement is only being used as a cudgel against socially convenient targets, such as Mr. Weinstein, rich, white, engaged in show business. No one except a lawyer is going to be defending him in our public forums! But, when the targeting gets selective, then your movement loses its force, and I fear this will be the real result of Mr. Weinstein's trial.
16
@David Godinez
Your comment certainly has merit.
1
"Harvey Weinstein was immediately sent to jail." What wonderful words to read. I commend and thank the women who courageously came forward and confronted evil.
17
A number of comments are bringing President Trump into this discussion in a negative way. Why does he have to be discussed here? He is not involved in any way. The hate for Donald Trump is enormous by the Trump haters. Can they give it a rest. It is comments like these that increase his already high poll numbers. Keep it up as it benefits President Trump.
7
@KMW Well it seems Trump creeps into a lot of discussions these days whether he is directly involved or not. One can make a case for him being included here is the various accusations of his questionable conduct with porn stars and the Hollywood access tape. I guess he had some higher standards in using porn stars instead of young staffers. The hatred against Trump is for the most part self inflicted with his hate being dished out on a daily basis with Twitter and his mouth. What goes around, comes around.
7
Because Trump is also guilty of assault and has perverted our justice system to help political allies. So for a trial on sexual assault it’s a natural association.
14
@KMW we will give it a rest, after the parade, when he is in prison.
5
I think that it's relieving that these terrible crimes were found to be guilty. The women who suffered these abuses deserve their justice. Hopefully other individuals with influential clout and prestige can be prosecuted for their alleged abuse. This brings to my mind former president Bill Clinton, who has a long, documented history of sexual assault and rape that is perhaps more substantial Harvey's. When I read the ghastly acts of Weinstein, it immediately recalled my recently informed knowledge of the repugnant allegations made by Eileen Wellstone, Juanita Broaddrick, Carolyn Moffet, Sandra Allen James, and others during Clinton's "youthful" days at university. Political power shouldn't be used as a cloak to ignore these voices that are identical to Harvey's victims.
3
As an avid watcher of Law and Order Special Victims Unit. I don't, for the life of me, understand how these women continued a sexual relationship with him. I am surprised he was found guilty of anything.
7
@Martin Dressel That is the conundrum here.
2
What "sexual relationship"? So you think that a hostage is guilty because it keeps being a hostage.
3
@Martin Dressel There are so many reason, but chiefly it's an attempt to make the assault not an assault, but it doesn't work. Eventually reality seeps through. Here's a little role-playing game you can play: imagine yourself in prison raped by your cellmate. He's also a big, violent, powerful gang leader. Now survive for your next ten years in that cell and your next 25 years in that prison.
4
On the one hand, I see a filthy rich, extremely influential and powerful man who used these assets to his advantage in exercising and imposing his will over some adult women, many of whom were quite experienced, knowledgeable and aware of what they were trading their affection and bodies for. Decades later they wake up and seek a reckoning?
I think both sides stink and they ought to be so ashamed that they would not seek revenge now engaging in a public and legal exchange.
Which one is the pot? Which one the kettle?
Settle it among yourselves! If anyone else cares, a little self-examination is due.
7
@Glenn Thomas No one goes to trial for a trade. These were rape cases.
4
Harvey Weinstein was a top adviser to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Hillary tried to defend Weinstein until it became obvious that there was no way to defend him.
If Hillary had been elected, Weinstein would have wielded outsized influence on the Clinton presidency, and he would be helping run the world instead of sitting in a prison cell awaiting sentencing.
This rare act of justice amongst one of the powerful was made possible only because Mr. Trump was elected to the presidency.
This is how you make lemonade out of lemons.
9
Well, no, it was Democrats in New York State that brought Weinstein to justice, and the idea that Trump’s election has prevented criminals from having influence is contradicted by guilty pleas and verdicts against a Manafort and Flynn and the crimes committed by Trump himself.
7
@Annie Gramson Hill
This is the most admirably circuitous argument in favor of Trump that I've ever encountered. It must have been a challenge to unwind yourself from that contorted positioning! Wow.
6
Cue the Presidential Tweet countdown. In his mind all things relate to him and in this case, it definitely does.
2
Twenty-five years sounds reasonable. He'll be eligible for parole in seven years.
2
I suspect that Mr. Weinstein's money is already fast disappearing into foreign hideaways and the pockets of lawyers where it will do little good for the women who are wanting and needing it.
4
‘What a long strange trip it’s been’!
Casting couch takes on a whole new meaning with this verdict.
What is good for the goose is good for the gander!
2
Sadly, this verdict proves that the average person (male and female) has no understanding of the complicated psychological price a woman pays for her assault. Guilt, shame and self-blame cause the victim to act in ways that seem contrary to her own interests. But if you’ve been there, you get it. Hence, the “Casting Couch” of life wins another round.
3
@Susan A THANK YOU. it is an assault on the very soul.
1
This is a good outcome, but not a great one. Because if Harvey Weinstein can't be found guilty of predatory sexual assault, who can?
Seems like there's a need to look again at this law, its intent and limitations.
5
Harvey Weinstein: he was an excess member of the male dominated patriarchy, using his status, money, power and predatory need for sexual gratification exploiting women who he humiliated into sexual acts and subserving repetition in many cases. The women who came forward deserve admiration for trying to overcome trauma and seek justice.
One intriguing aspect: how some of the traumatized/victimized women were forced into forms of repeated debasing complicity by the power-ego of HW. How sexual power denigrates the decency and self-worth of victims.
This is a day of (muted) jubilation that justice is served the women who were debased and victimized by a one of the 1% of this problematic society; muted as no-one would wish or even think that the powerful would be so immoral. It is also a sad day for decent men who are thrown into the conundrum of excessive male power abusers. The majority of men are not H Weinsteins!
3
The comments by so many men desperate to defend Weinstein and to denigrate the defendants, demonstrates exactly how toxic American culture is for all women.
The Weinstein verdict is a satisfying moment but, for almost every woman in America, little to nothing has changed.
18
@Chickpea I agreed. The verdict and Weinstein removal to jail immediately after the verdict was read are small steps, but nationally covered and public, which I am hopeful will help continue with the fight.
2
Did he give up on the performance and throw away his walker yet?
9
I guess those NDAs didn’t help you out much.
They’re just not worth what they used to be.
4
For the multitude of women, including me, whose molesters will never be brought to trial, this verdict brings a small measure of comfort that men may regard this conviction as a wake-up call to correct their behavior.
316
@Jazzie Oh so, no evidence, just the word of a woman can put a man behind bars for a long time? That's not right. I'm afraid for men to be quite honest with you. I'm not a Harvey fan but I am a fan of evidence where justice is concerned. These women waited years, decades to bring these charges. They benefited and many if not most of them got famous. I hope Harvey appeals.
2
@BashaR, There may always be those who accuse without basis in fact – this is not restricted to cases of sexual assault - but believe me, to come forward and then be subject to such intense scrutiny, is not something undertaken lightly. In our society, men have mostly been in the power position. Many women never disclose what has happened to them because sadly your comment demonstrates a not uncommon mindset. Be assured, with the eyes of the world on this trial, the verdict – based on the EVIDENCE – was fair.
40
@BashaR
Testimony given under oath *is* evidence.
Particularly when it includes numerous credible accounts along with other supporting testimony. As we saw in this case, that evidence does not at all go unchallenged.
This is the same standard used in other crimes large and small, from blackmail to extortion to fighting speeding tickets.
Providing and resolving that kind of evidence is often incredibly tough on everyone involved (including the jury), but that's fair and just.
25
Congratulations also to the NYT staff whose outstanding reporting really got to the truth of Weinstein's predatory behavior. This is some measure of justice for women, and let's hope all the other powerful men out there who've likewise abused their positions to prey on others will take note of this landmark decision.
10
Guilty on 2 counts. Handcuffed and taken directly to jail. But will he be out on appeal?
3
I would like to see more comments and NYT coverage of the people that facilitated this and looked the other way. Board members, his brother, assistants, and especially all those in Hollywood whose silence is so conspicuous. Quentin Tarantino, Matt Damon, Alec Balwin and the others that infamously said 'I did not do enough'. Translated, they did and continue to do nothing.
These women deserve reparation from Hollywood.
15
@Brian Read She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey.
2
While I do not command him being the ladies' man, cheating on his wife, etc. this verdict scares me. Event with not being privy to all the testimony, there was reasonable doubt, and no evidence other than testimony - basically hear say, he said, she said. If this kind of "evidence" brings in emotional guilty verdict, God helps us all...
2
Hoo, boy. Testimony _is_ evidence. And apparently you are saying that all those women just ganged up on poor Harvey and lied because everyone knows women can’t be trusted to tell the “unemotional” truth?
1
Weinstein's conviction is a sign of the #me too movement run amok. Based on evidence I observed and read I doubt I would have convicted him.
2
So in other words women don't count. it was something erveryone in the industry knew. shame on them for not pointing it out.
4
@Judy, fortunately, we (still) have a system whereby a panel of jurors makes the call. What “evidence” have you seen or read, other than what’s been published? You do realize, don’t you, that juries see and hear considerably more than what appears in the media?
4
Vance has some guts sitting there considering his decisions in the Hadden case. Maybe he'll finally put some resources into rectifying that awful miscarriage of justice.
4
It is a victory but 5 to 25 doesn’t sound like a lot especially if ends up being closer to 5 and then maybe he could get out sooner for good behavior.
4
I hope his passport has been confiscated - pending the no-doubt coming appeal of this verdict by him.
7
There's just too much here to let this dude go free..."he said/she said," repeatedly my multiple women, makes a convincing conviction. But we need to be careful to not make a feeding frenzy against encounters gone bad. Weinstein is hopefully an outlier, a serial abuser. Let's use reason and perspective. A date gone bad should not result in 20 years behind bars. The power dynamic plays both ways too.
2
“A date gone bad”
Any date with him went bad!
1
@charlie corcoran You are describing rape as a date gone bad? You are wrong. That type of toxic thinking is what needs to change.
4
Well, not to appear contrary, but (well, what else?) I have found myself the target (if not actually the "victim") of several instances of sexual harassment by women. In one case it was an important client who demanded I have sex with her (I had to lock myself in a hotel room to get away from her). In another instance I had sold my portion of my business to a female partner in the firm. We had earlier lived together, but both moved on to new relationships (or so I thought). She hired her new boyfriend to work in the business, but every time he left town she would come in my office and basically demand sex- which I resisted until it got so bad that i simply resigned from the company. I have a mirror and know I look nothing like George Clooney. But that stopped neither of them and others. Well, in the instance of my former partner she eventually sold the business, left town, married her new boyfriend, and took my dog. I miss the dog.
5
@Mark Shyres Sexual Harassment is wrong whether the predator is a female or male and requires reporting, investigation and consequences for the predator. I can understand why you may not have reported these harassment events, whether to police or the business HR dept or board of directors or owners;because it is about power and you want to at least try to hang on to what you have because once reported, all will change, and not usually against the predator. You unfortunately experienced what is common occurrences for many women in the work place.
7
Thank you, thank you, all you women who stood up and spoke up despite the very real risk of further humiliation, fear and backlash. You are brave, you are my heroines and I applaud you and others of my gender who have said "enough."
You vindicate and support the shy, hopeful, sunny girl in her first week of college who, on her way across campus to the student union, ran into a trio of upperclass football players, one of whom said, " look at that ugly thing." That charming girl turned around and slunk back to her dorm room.
The girl was me, 58 years ago.
Thank you to all my sisters who keep railing against the variety of transgressions against girls and women by a certain populace of man that crawls out of slime on occasion to belittle, abuse. May these men all get an eventual kick from karma.
18
"Ms. Mann and Ms. Haley both acknowledged that they continued to see Mr. Weinstein after the alleged assaults and later had consensual sex with him, testimony that complicated the prosecution’s case."
Then, how could the prosecution prove there had been a rape? Did they have a videotape? Eye witnesses?
If I were an American male with any kind of power, I would give up dating.
2
@Jean Roudier Instead of giving up dating, just don't be a rapist or an abuser. Instead, try reading any of the myriad of articles, including in the New York Times, that explains the psychological complexities of re-submitting to a rapist or abuser. It's extremely commonplace. Both men and women do it.
5
@Sam Katz
Thanks for your kind advice!
Even though I am a male, I nevertheless am neither a rapist nor an abuser. Seems unbelievable to you?
My point is, pardon my French, that given the current feeding frenzy, wealthy powerful males are sitting ducks for lynching...
1
I admire the jury to be so delivered t, honest and be able to look at case objectively without thinking about “monster.” A job well done.
1
Sometimes the legal system really works. This man is truly gross; he deserves punishment and taking responsibility for his behavior. Taking responsibility seems like it'll never happen, but at least these women got some sort of justice and perhaps the casting couch shenanigans can finally be put to rest although i'm sure it still happens. How deplorable.
8
@neetz I'm sure that the "Casting couch." felt the full weight of two willing bodies. I think you're missing 1/2 of the equation.
1
@Glenn Thomas This is not about the casting couch. It's about rape. What part of that word don't you get? By the way, I spent ten years in Hollywood, took dozens and dozens of meetings in homes and hotel rooms, and never got assaulted in any way.
4
Thankful for the verdict and more than thankful that he is remanded to jail, where he belongs, and not home with an ankle monitor.
Cy Vance must know that he's under scrutiny here as well.
12
It's a shame that our criminal justice system is so political. With only 5% of the world's population, we have 25% of the world's prisoners in jail. Blacks, American Indians, and Hispanics are overrepresented. The vast majority of prisoners are male.
It's hard to say that our criminal justice system is reducing crime when we have so many prisoners but we also have so much crime. Many people have their lives ruined by a prison sentence. Should they? Hard to say.
I'm not defending Harvey Weinstein. I don't know what he did. There's no way to know. Our system of lengthy and expensive trials by jury does not have a particularly good record of finding out.
But those who think that there is a black and white distinction between guilt and innocence misunderstand. Verdicts always should instead be read as shades of gray. Does Harvey Weinstein deserve a long sentence in prison for his crimes? Or is he a scapegoat for the way women are sometimes treated?
It looks like the jury's verdict is somewhere in between. That should be sobering. Are we really doing justice? Or are we ruining lives for politics and appearances?
1
@John Smithson "Scapegoat" captures the spirit. There were 2 people on that casting couch.
1
@Glenn Thomas It wasn't a casting couch. You keep repeating that as if you can change the stories to meet your own FICTION. At what point do you realize that you are living in your own head and it has nothing to do with other people's lives?
6
Sounds like Weinstein was largely unfazed by the whole thing until he realized he was going straight to a jail cell until sentencing. Kudos to the judge for this modicum of justice.
38
@Bookistan
Really? The man is from Hollywood and knows a thing or two about acting. Don't be surprised if his reaction justifies a "time served" and probation sentence. I do not trust Vance or the judge.
1
Wonder if Trump will pardon him. Not because he cares about Harvey but just to throw it in women’s faces. Even his sycophants would try to talk him out of it. Stock market’s bottom is falling out and he’s in India playing bread and circuses. What’s his plan for the virus in the U.S.? Plan? Ha! More important to pardon criminals.
5
Assuming these charges were ostensibly state and not federal, we shouldn’t have to worry about the pardon factor at least.
6
@pendragn52 There is no plan for the virus, he has also gutted the National Science of Health and the agency tasked with responding to such pandemics. I'm nor worried about it, everyone dies from something someday.
Clinton proved she doesn’t respect women when she stood by as Bill ostracized women daring to accuse him of sexual crimes.
Harvey Weinstein represents so many who think that over half the population (women) are inferior to men. So therefore, are here to serve men. We need more sentences like this. And we need our President to submit a cheek swab to answer questions about a rape accusation. A simple cheek swab would exonerate him, right?
20
@Steve
Yes, he immediately denied this accusation so a DNA swab would clear him. He is always so wronged. Poor Richie Rich.
2
Steve, there is nothing needed to exonerate Donald Trump of raping Jean Carroll. She has provided no evidence to support her case.
She still has the dress.
2
Let us not forget how long this man was able to engage in his predatory sexual activities, the people around him who enabled his behavior, and the women who's lives have been forever altered. How do we stop the next Harvey Weinstein before decades pass and so many lives are damaged?
16
An unquestionably momentous verdict for all women. Now can we immediately take the next step and revoke time limitations on rape prosecutions in every State of the United States?
17
Emily, yes, and while we're at it why don't we dispense with trials and juries and go straight to sentencing everyone accused to jail.
2
@John Smithson There should no statute of limitations on any crime. If the case can be proven, why is there? Their cases were proven.
4
@John Smithson you missed the point regarding PROSECUTIONS, for which big trials and juries are necessary.
1
You really have to ask yourself what is wrong with these juries.
1
@atb ..i believe too many of them are not , how can i say, not intelligent enough to make the decisions they have to make...
not just with this jury but with others, when i hear read back the questions they want the judge to answer, i am slapping my forehead in disbelief.....srsly.
Come on Trump. Pardon Harvey. When you are rich, women are supposed to let you do whatever you want, right?
5
Much as I'd deplore it, I can see Trump pardoning Weinstein. A major part of his appeal is that he makes liberals scream, and this would really pump up the volume. He’d get a kick out of it personally too, with a thumb in the eye to Hollywood and demonstrating by proxy his own sense of invulnerability to such charges. Deep down, he still feels that when you’re a star they let you do it.
3
Trump can’t pardon Weinstein or anyone else convicted of a state crime. Why don’t people understand that Presidential pardons are for Federal crimes only?
11
@Hope Anderson Ok, I forgot, but you can still expect a sympathetic tweet.
2
Probably no need to say pardon me with our “I don’t understand what Harvey did wrong” President.
So what happens now vis-a-vis the LA trial? Will he do a bicoastal tour and next appear in LA before serving his NYC sentence?
1
Let this be a lesson.
2
I sat on two rape case juries many years ago, one was a sexual predator making the rounds of laundromats and the second was a statutory rape against a 20 year old boy when he was 16. We convicted the laundromat rapist in 90 minutes of deliberation and thats after voting 3 times. The second was much more complicated and ended in a hung jury. I voted not guilty mainly because the dates of the act were so old and it wasn't clear what happened. In the end, I walked out of that courtroom feeling fairly certain something ocurred but not sure enough to convict given the "beyond a reasonable doubt" requirement. The Weinstein case seems to be similar in that regard.
Hate to criticize the victims but this is what happens when you wait so long. Its very difficult to report older crimes but if you are going make these guys accountable, get your facts straight and go to the police right away.
6
You mean go to the police right away like the Italian actress (who agreed to wear a wire, which then recorded HW admitting his assault on her) did? Victim blaming is abhorrent. Men running police departments and shelving rape kits, discouraging women Bc men are too lazy to investigate/refer for prosecution, etc. Let’s bury those practices! And let’s burn The casting couch while we are at it, it’s not cute or funny, it’s disgusting!
15
@TH There are many many reasons why victims wait to report. You can go research them.
4
The portrait of Weinstein as reported by the Kantor and Twohey and Ronan Farrell screamed sexual predator. Yet, the Jury did not return that verdict. I am no prude, but this is a sad tale of a man who indulged his sexual lust repeatedly with women who lusted after fame and fortune in Hollywood. They were co-dependents and victims, too.
6
@-APR Not all his victims were actresses. Nor is this the only industry where this routinely happened. It happens everywhere -- all sexes, all ages, everywhere. You would think in the same week that the Boy Scouts of America declared bankruptcy people would get that, but sadly, they don't.
1
And what of Cy Vance? How he had the nerve to sit up front after years of allowing Weinstein (and other notorious predators) to get away with their behavior?????
Kudos to all your stellar reporters, especially Megan Twohey and Joni Kantor. Weinstein had them followed. Against the odds, justice is served. Only wish he'd been found guilty on the predatory counts and could languish in jail for all his years.
19
Great!
Can we move on from this?
If not, can Asia Argento be next? fair is fair, she had sex with a minor, took pictures, shared them with friends, lured him to her hotel room and gave him alcohol.
Yet she's not in jail.
Since he's going to jail, she should too.
9
@AutumnLeaf Believe it or not, about 25-30 years ago a female HS teacher raped her 16-year old male student in Pennsylvania and the judge dismissed the case saying the boy, "...probably liked it."
Sexist notions cut both ways, whether women admit it or not.
3
@AutumnLeaf I think her case was settled out of court. No, we can't move on from this -- until it stops. Seems to me you should read a few more newspapers. Look up "Boy Scouts" and tell me when we should "just move on." How ridiculous your attention span is, and how thin and sad your understanding of assault and it's consequences is.
1
Donald Trump bragged and has not been made accountable. It is doable, as we see.
3
I expect Trump to hint at a pardon. Even if he's not serious, it will serve his strategy of adding both noise to, and distraction from, any existing topics important to his political survival.
2
Long Island Dave, among other reasons why that won't happen, Harvey Weinstein was convicted in state court. Donald Trump could not pardon him. Only the governor of New York could.
5
@John Smithson - Good to know, thanks for the reminder.
Oh come on...If Harvey makes a call to the White House promising dough for Trump's campaign, one can expect a presidential pardon--maybe later a Metal of Honor.
We pay for justice and the President pardons it.
4
Harvey should have picked out a bigger, flashier walker. So I guess truth still matters and we're going to have to lock you up now boyo. Say Hi to Bill for us and don't come back now y'hear?
3
Next, Los Angeles. The man should spend the rest of his life in prison.
How many others in the movie industry (and elsewhere) are guilty of the same crimes?
6
Mr. Weinstein has faced his accusers and been found guilty. This may empower all those who have suffered abuse. But this alone cannot change society.
To those who are raising children, talk to them about consent. Empower them to use their thoughts and words to have better relationships. Power comes from understanding, not social status or size.
3
I am glad he was found guilty. It certainly seemed from all I read that he is what he is being accused of.....and I absolutely believe that he needs to go to jail. Like Bill Cosby, this predator created a world of misery for too many women.
Relative to the fact the women continued to see him.....
This was a classic case of you are darned if you do, darned if you don't.
For women who refused him, many saw their careers die on the vine. What a very painful reality for someone who was talented and invested in their craft. To climb up so high only to be kicked off the ledge by a predator is devastating.
But then again, the other choice was to acquiesce. That didn't seem to work either. No matter your choice, he held all the power and he commoditized the women's careers in the service of his lust and ego.
There just was no winning with him.....until #metoo. Thank God for #metoo and thank God for this jury.
I don't know what rot exists inside his psyche but I hope he takes the time in jail to reflect on the damage that he wrought others. He wasted his life by damaging so many others.
243
@GWE
I do wish those women who had be assaulted refused all contact with this predator after. It definitely diluted their case.
If they, however, felt they had no recourse to insure their livelihood, it could be understandable.
3
@GWE :Let's hope he serves his time in a "hard case" prison and not some "country club" institution in California......perhaps in rural North Dakota!
3
@Upstater : Rikers is a good starting point - and without his ridiculous walker.
3
But why does he go straight to jail while Roger Stone can dawdle his jail time out indefinitely?
4
If he tried this on with my Daughter I would be going to jail but he would never bother another woman ever again.
10
@Howard McLaen
Talk to your daughter.
The culture that allows people like Weinstein to mistreat women for decades is the culture in which your daughter lives.
And it affects all of us, even when we escape the worst of it.
2
While it's good to see Weinstein convicted of two of the charges, I can understand why he was found not guilty on most of the charges - based on these particular two victims. Both of these women continued to see him - AND have consensual sex with him AFTER the alleged assaults. This doesn't make sense to me. If they were truly raped and traumatized, why would they keep seeing him and having sex with him - unless they were voluntarily do it to promote their careers. ..... I think there were some "real" victims out there - but these two women were not them. Not sure why they decided to choose these two women to build the case against Weinstein.
As for him staying free after the verdict - that seems to be the norm for people with money these days. Look at Roger Stone - who was convicted by a jury AND sentenced - and he's still wondering around free while he asks for a new trial!!!! If this was an average American, who wasn't pals with Trump, Stone would be sitting in jail right now while he asks for a new trial. So, if Weinstein is thrown in prison now, then I think Roger Stone should be too.
3
@J.M.
Women, like men, have to live in this world.
The same way you must eat any insults and disrespect your boss may hand out on a daily basis, women do as well, with the added burden of sexual harassment, a particularly personal and hurtful form of bullying.
You don’t walk away from your career when your boss is abusive, do you? You have responsibilities, right?
4
@Chickpea I'm a woman, so I "get" what you're saying. ... But, in this particular case, I just don't think these two women were the best choice to build a case around. I believe many women were true victims of sexual assault under Weinstein - but I just don't think that these two women were among them.
They not only continued to see him - but they also had consensual sex with him AFTER the alleged assaults. ... There were a lot women who tried to jump on the #MeToo bandwagon to cash in on the Weinstein scandal. I remember one woman who stalked him, tracked him down at a dinner conference and then followed him back to his hotel room in the hopes of getting him to give her a part in a film. Do you think she's a victim too? Or just a woman who wanted to use her body to get a movie role?
In my view, a Weinstein victim is someone he assaulted against their will - AND the victim didn't keep coming back later for "consensual sex."
The prosecution could not prove Weinstein guilty of the statutory crime of being a sexual predator. But his pattern of behavior proves that he is. He used the immense power he had in the movie industry to manipulate would-be actresses to hotel rooms or private bedrooms; he forced himself on them but hooked them into on-going relationships by manipulating their hopes and dreams. He used his power and wealth to intimidate, stalk and threaten those who complained. This post crime conduct is evidence of guilt and a pattern in itself. This conduct should be admissible to establish a pattern of predatory conduct even if the underlying crime is difficult to prove. How many NDAs does he need? How many detectives are paid to track how many possible complainants? How many women come forward years after the statute of limitations runs? These non-assault fact should be considered as an aggravating factor establishing predation.
15
The jury should be commended for the careful consideration it gave to this case. Good job!
13
I've publicly named three assailants in the past year and a half, and I'm filing a police report against one of them, next week. I filed a police report against another one of them a year ago, and it was a punishing experience (rude / offensive cop and no results), so I'm not looking forward to going through it, again, but I will with low expectations because it's the only option I have for fighting back and protecting myself.
I just want to put it out there for anyone who is considering filing a report to know that almost all cities have sexual assault / domestic violence resource centers, and nearly all of them allow you to file your police report there and with an advocate present.
The advantages are that you don't have to go to the station, which can be overwhelming in general and frightening for anyone who has experienced police violence, and you also don't have cops coming into your house which is invasive and a spectacle for the neighbors. Instead, you're in a neutral environment with a trained professional there to give you support which also serves as a deterrent to keep officers from being jerks when taking the report.
There are a lot of reasons not to file, and I respect them all, but if you ever do, then a resource center is probably the best way to go. Good luck to all survivors reading this on their journeys.
58
@Debbie Penetration... If you have the option, take it. SOME cops ARE real JERKS. And, the non-jerk cops will be perfectly happy that you didn't get put off by their jerk co-worker. The good cops have mothers, aunts, wives, daughters, and even sons too. You get most the rights you can assert - and very few rights that you don't. Be smart. Get what you can, as best you can...
2
@Debbie Penetration
Thank you for this information
I've wondered where to even begin often that in the end I just thought to forget about it. I have renewed hope now. Thank you and may you find peace from your painful sexual assault experience.
4
@Debbie Penetration brava to you. And thank you for the guidance for the rest of us.
1
Just hearing the word GUILTY in this case helps those of us who have suffered sexual assault. They were GUILTY. Not us. We did nothing wrong at the hands of these predators. We are the innocent in this society.
48
This is one guy Trump will NOT pardon. Weinstein always supported the Democrats and was very publicly supportive of Hillary Clinton. Weinstein was also part of the Hollywood elite who for the most part scorn Trump.
11
@Milton Lewis
He cant pardon him anyway. This is NY state case. Not a federal case. Orangeturd has no jurisdiction to pardon in a state case.
8
Trump can't pardon those convicted of state crimes. He has no jurisdiction.
2
State charges. The president could not pardon him even if he wanted to.
2
@TRS I suggest that some victims of abuse have a post traumatic response that desensitizes them as a defense or coping mechanism. The fact that some woman had subsequent sex with their rapist indicates greater, not less, harm from the original abuse.
12
Justice is served. Where it ought to be: in a court of law, not on Twitter.
22
How long before Trump tweets about how “unfair” these proceedings are and gets him a reduced sentence?! Maybe Weinstein and Roger Stone can share a cab home.
3
Exactly
@Jackson - so did Donald Trump. He donated $100K to the Clinton Foundation and a few thousand to both Hillary herself and Chuck Schumer.
Trump is not an ideologue.
1
“He was found not guilty on the two counts of predatory sexual assault, which suggests that one or some jurors did not believe the testimony of Annabella Sciorra, an actress best known for her work in “The Sopranos.”
That is quite a speculation. You don’t know what the jury decision making process was.
20
Harvey being so Harvey-like, he'll retire to his room awash in self-pity.
2
We would like to see him off the streets permanently. He is a danger to society. I don't believe the Walker image he is putting on. It is for sympathy.
14
This article neglects to explain what the charge of "predatory sexual assault" really means in legal terms, and how it is different from his other modes of assault?
After googling on it, it is still not clear to me (not a lawyer), but it sounds like "predatory sexual assault" is an "umbrella" term that covers some of the things he was already convicted of. It also requires a very high level of proof (whatever that means).
Plus the article says he still faces charges in the State of California.
1
I don't know; the post-"attack" history with the two main complainants and their ongoing relationship, communications and additional sexual history seemed to me to create reasonable doubt as to them but to actually substantiate the crime of sexual predator....offhand, the verdict seems reverse of what i thought was likely to happen. you never know, i guess.
1
I'm glad to hear that Weinstein was at least convicted on two of the 5 counts, but I would like to hear why the jurors could not agree to convict him on the other three more serious charges.
6
In NZ, jurors are not allowed to discuss the deliberations and discussions that took place in the jury room. I am not sure if this is the case in the United States.
1
A good start. Keep going. There are many more like him. Where are the 25 Trump cases, by the way? Can we get those fast-tracked? I'd like to know whether or not the sitting president is a serial abuser of women, preferably before November.
19
How much jail time does he get? That's the important thing.
6
The important thing is that he was convicted. The important thing is that these women were believed.
7
We will not know until next month, March 11.
A woman's word is worth 1/3rd of the word of a man. Very impressive.
11
@Lala You don't convict on words, but on evidence.
@David
"You don't convict on words, but on evidence."
Words are evidence. What do you think testimony is?
2
This is just the first of the two rape and sexual assault charges that he faces, the second one being in Los Angeles. However Weinstein is at least lucky in that he was tried first in NY, which means that he will serve the NY sentence before he will be transferred to CA to serve whatever sentence he gets there. And the reason he's lucky to be serving his sentence in NY is because CA prisons have severe overcrowding, and so new prisoners are given a bunk bed in a huge room packed in with hundreds of other prisoners, and the wait for a cell can take years. In addition CA prisons are infested with violent gangs. And so its actually in his best interest to get a long sentence in NY, as his best hope is to either die in a NY prison, or get so sick that by the time he is transferred to CA he will be eligible to go to a hospital ward.
1
On the plus side for Harvey - he can now start walking upright without the aid of a walker.
61
Does he really need that walker?
7
I’m shocked. I anticipated he would get away with it. Bravo!
6
Well, at least this monster will be off the street and unable to victimize another woman. That in and of itself is a huge relief.
Thank you members of the jury.
15
...and let's NOT keep UP with putting with "these" behavior and let's say: "NOT ANYMORE!"
3
Huge chill just swept across offices in Hollywood.
17
@Okbyme and relief.
2
Wrong. Huge chill swept across every nook and cranny of this crazy country. Women just got pushed back about 30 years today. Nice work me too movement
Just heard a recording on the BBC of a group of women cheering after the Weinstein verdict was announced. The reporter explained that it was the cheers of women journalists expressing their happiness at no longer have to use the word “alleged” when reporting some of Weinstein’s crimes. Amen.
69
Overreach. Me too has pushed women 30 years back....Who needs the headache of working with women when all they have to do is claim abuse and they are believed unconditionally.
4
@Mike DeMaio How is undergoing a twelve day trial being “believed unconditionally “ ? Name one man who has been convicted of any crime merely by a woman claiming abuse sine the Metoo movement began.
9
@Mike DeMaio You may not have been around long enough to see a pattern of the belief that women never lie.
1
People, this is a STATE CASE! Trump has zero authority over it and cannot pardon Harvey Weinstein. Only the governor can and that’s Andrew Cuomo. He’s definitely not going to! If Harvey is convicted in California, the only person who can pardon him would be Gavin Newsom and THAT definitely won’t happen! Presidential pardon can only be done on FEDERAL CASES!
18
The jury obviously worked hard on the verdict, deserves respect.
Based on the law, his lack of previous convictions, and his age, I expect 5 years plus probation.
3
Bravo to all the courageous women who upended their lives in an attempt to find justice for themselves and to change the toxic male-dominated culture we live in.
Although this verdict may not be entirely what women hoped for, it’s still a game changer with respect to protecting women in the future.
Bravo, ladies, bravo!!
412
Anyone who says that they did this for fame or money have no clue how harrowing an experience testifying in a sexual assault case can be. Especially against powerful men. No amount of money is worth it. Getting back your dignity and self-worth is. Feeling safe again is. Harvey Weinstein not only sexually assaulted these women, he mentally tortured them afterwards by messing with their careers. They all knew he was out there and that he could get away with it because he was Harvey Weinstein! It was the same with Les Moonves, Bill Cosby, Louis CK, Charlie Rose, Matt Lauer and other powerful, wealthy men. At least Bill Cosby and now, Harvey Weinstein, have learned that they can no longer prey on people because of who they are.
21
@Diane brava (rather)
5
The women who testified will never get justice. They have been permanently harmed. Their courage will hopefully deter the predators among us right now and those who might act on their predatory instincts in the future.
Many thanks for stepping forward.
33
The first rule is never ever touch anyone without credible permission and without duress. This is not easy, passion and desire are the most powerful of urges. Civilization eventually has to define acceptable behavior and this is never easy. The United States has made considerable progress. The world is changing. Nevertheless this week and every week girls and women will be abused. Mr. Weinstein will never learn a lesson, he never cared to do so and it was shown in this trial.
5
@David Fairbanks
How about we start with men modeling and explaining to their sons that consent means getting to unqualified "yes", not overcoming "no".
How about we start even sooner with men modeling to their sons that all women, including their own mothers, deserve to be treated with respect, not scoffed at, expected to serve and be subservient to men (and boys).
19
@David Fairbanks The first rule is professional relationships require professional behavior.
5
Sure some of us will be disappointed that he was not convicted on all counts, but this is a watershed moment for a once powerful man who would NEVER have imagined this moment while going about molesting god knows how many women has been brought to justice! Importantly he has been made an example for millions of other men out there to think before they act. Kudos to the few brave women who made this possible and those who supported them through what must have been a really tough battle.
420
@AC And, he was treated as a convicted felon and walked off to jail immediately!!! No stay on verdict or continuation of bail pending sentencing or appeal for this former power broker. Excellent!!!!
25
@AC
Until his conviction is overturned on appeal. This is far from over.
So will he appear on crutches, with a sling for his LA court proceedings? It is just the beginnng...a good start.
7
I suspect that when seen leaving the courtroom Weinstein miraculously no longer required the ubiquitous walker used by "criminals of a certain age."
6
Will we know how many jurors voted not guilty on counts 1, 3, and 4 and the reasons?
3
So when will all artistic expressions in when Mr. Weinstein financed, produced, or otherwise controlled be permanently removed from distribution?
That's not going to happen. Weinstein was not the creative force behind any film.
1
As I understand the charges; there were five. He was acquitted on the two predatory charges and guilty on two others. What was the fifth charge?
1
@Mary “Rape in the first degree” which, if I understand correctly was an alternative to the counts of “ criminal sex act in the first degree” and “ rape in the third degree” of which he was found guilty.
It's a start. Powerful men could always manipulate, ignore, get away with their actions against women. Women were believed this time, not told, "They wished" or "They lied". Also, the trauma of sexual abuse will be better understood, why these women continued to have sex with with this powerful man. After being sexually assault in the hospital by my doctor, I still went to him. Now, I wonder why. Then, no one believed me. The verdict and the punishment may not be what we wanted, but it again tells the world that this happens, that we did not make it up.
266
@JanerMP : The worst is having to live with a pedophile father. It damaged my entire life and I am 68 years old and am still not free of him psychologically. I've given up even trying now.
Very few women have not had a sexual assault experience. It is extremely damaging to one's life. If I had my way, I'd hand out dull knives.....
5
@sophia I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how terrible this is. I really cannot.
extremely concerning and irresponsible prosecution. no one who followed the details could think proof beyond a reasonable doubt was available in this case.
6
@Andrew Edge except the jurors .
5
@Andrew Edge
No one except the jury. Vetted by both sides, deliberative and unanimous on 2 counts. Harvey Weinstein got a defense that very few Americans can afford.
The idea that he was overwhelmed by the power of the State, something that happens every day to citizens without the means for a proper defense, is absurd.
6
Sounds like trump just before he pardons criminals.
1
Civil society cannot and will not persist as long as testimony is the sole criterion for determining guilt.
3
@Ben So if ten unrelated people all credibly say, at social cost to themselves, that a crime has been committed, you would have the alleged crime ignored?
Forensic evidence can be destroyed or corrupted, intentionally or simply with the passing of time. When we do not have it, testimony is our next resort, and always should be. It is much harder to orchestrate a common lie among a group of disparate people than it is to destroy or corrupt forensic evidence.
14
I thought that there was a tape of him confessing to a woman he had attacked. She wore a police wire. I heard it in the radio. Was that not entered as evidence?
While I have not ever been the victim of sexual abuse, assault or harassment, something like 90% of all the women I have known in my life have multiple experiences with the above, some were still on-going at the time.
While I have experienced the occasional lude comment, I never felt uncomfortable and if I did, I had the privilege and background to confront the person on the spot. Most women are taught from an early age to be polite first and foremost and so lack the ability to confront in the moment. To be fair to my parents, I was also taught this, but it simply didn't take. Plus, just out of my undergrad I was a therapist at a behavioral-based mental health facility for serious offenders, a job I had for several years. The training and experience in this environment helped me learn how to be appropriately assertive in the moment. I wish all women had such training as young adults.
That said, ever since, I have been routinely labeled throughout my 40 year career as, "difficult to work with" while men with identical behavior were uniformly praised. In some cases, as women, you can't win.
Thankfully, this stuff is getting better with time...
.
43
@SMcStormy
"The training and experience in this environment helped me learn how to be appropriately assertive in the moment. I wish all women had such training as young adults."
Excellent point. I too worked in mental health and absorbed language of boundary setting and the ability to read dicey situations, though with a less acute population. The experience served me well in understanding human behavior and seeing pathological dynamics at play. So yes, we do need such training for young people, girls and boys.
People need specific language to employ in these situations; specific actions to engage. Where are the resources that provide specific help in responding to boundary violations and inappropriate behavior. Sometimes just coming across the right resource at the right time means everything. Where are these resources? Surely we don't have to start from scratch. Any suggestions out there about easily accessible options, books or videos etc.?
1
@SMcStormy
When my teen heads to the mall, I tell her, "Remember. If you encounter a creepy guy, hit him hard and fast. You can always apologize if you've made a mistake. Hit first. As hard as you can."
We, the mothers of young teenage girls and boys, are no longer teaching our kids to be nice. The reign of Creepy Thanksgiving Uncle is in its twilight.
4
What took so long for justice to be done for crimes committed years ago? Justice delayed is justice denied. Look at this image. How long could Weinstein live to endure a life sentence? Rest of the sunset of his miserable life. Had it not been better if the most serious charges against him brought up promptly? or where there non disclosure agreements that protect, the rich and famous like Harvey?
In future, any criminal activity by anyone should not be a closely guarded secret for justice to be done promptly.
12
@Girish Kotwal
In his heyday, and at the time that the acts occurred, the women would never, ever have been believed. Ambra Guiterrez first reported him to NYC police groping her in 2015 and had him on tape admitting he had done so. And the D.A. dropped the case. It was only after the tipping point of the NYT reports and then the New Yorker reports in 2017 that caused people to take notice and the credibility dam broke and Harvey was exposed. All well and good to have reported it earlier, but Harvey would have crushed them without the subsequent tsunami of reporting.
1
Thank you to all the women who faced the trauma of their experiences and of their abuse at the hands of this powerful man of privilege and who testified. This is a moment in which all sexual predators need to become aware of their actions and their consequences differently than before. I am grateful to all of you. I am inspired by you, and your courage will become a powerful chapter on the history of gender justice.
47
I want to especially thank Annabelle Sciorria. She was very brave, considering the number Harvey did on her and her career. She was the most public face of this trial. Having to tell her story so publicly again and again was truly courageous.
28
And lest we forget, there are many, many women who still face sexual harassment and debasement every day in their working lives. I truly hope such a high profile case extends awareness - and a fundamental, lasting change in attitude - towards women whose lives are negatively impacted by much less public figures.
79
Corporate compliance and general counsel(s) have to advise boards of directors that unsupervised men working in or near female employees in the workplace is a financial liability that may not be insurable. The result is that women will be denied opportunities for advancement. This is a major setback in the workplace for every women in this country.
7
@LeonardBarnes
If the alternative was to "not convict", I think the outcome you suggest is preferred to the implicit precedent that what Weinstein did was somehow not unacceptable.
However, I don't think you're correct as this case, while involving heterosexual assault, extends to same-gender assault. It's not about gender. Rather, it's about the behaviors this person, who happens to be male, perpetrated.
7
A rapist has been convicted for his crimes. Well, some of them. That is not a setback.
10
@LeonardBarnes This is the most sexist and absurd conclusion I can imagine drawing from this verdict. Because some men refuse to control their behavior, women either have to endure sexual violation or stay out of the workforce.
How about this: if men cannot control their behavior, and can't be trusted in some workplace positions, they should stay out of the workforce. Let women have their jobs.
32
I’m relieved with this result. Pleased to see there will be serious consequences for a powerful man, even when his chief accusers here continued relationships with him after their assaults. Moving forward, hopefully, today’s result will lead to more complex sexual assault cases being brought against those in power.
Still, the acquittal on the two counts of predatory sexual assault implies that some jurors had trouble believing the third accuser, Annabella Sciorra. Looking forward to hearing jurors comment on why exactly, since their note on Friday suggested a split on the issue.
10
Why is it about believing Annabelle Scoriano? Could it be the evidence wasn’t available or too much time has passed? Why would the article state that? Did they talk to a juror? I think the authors of this article should look up the word re-victimization. I believe her. It took tremendous courage to testify against him. I’m proud of all the women who testified.
1
It would have been helpful if you had included the sentencing minimums and maximum for these crimes. As a former ADA in Manhattan, I know that he must receive a mandatory 5 years in prison, and the maximum is 25 years.
136
@jfdenver Thank you for your comment. This is a developing story that we are continuously updating. We have added sentencing informattion. You are correct: Harvey Weinstein faces up to 25 years. His sentencing is scheduled for March 11: https://nyti.ms/38XrApM. I hope this helps. And thank you for reading.
24
I guess Harvey can ditch his walker now.
231
@Nancy Kelley Yes. That schtick with the walker was getting old.
12
@Nancy Kelley "A miraculous recovery!"
14
His walker was a complete sham. He had a laminectomy in DECEMBER! That’s minor surgery! He was out of the hospital the next day! My mom just had major spinal fusion (six vertebrae!) surgery last month and is walking better than Harvey! She only uses the walker to prevent any falling to protect the surgical site. She really doesn’t need it but uses it as a precaution! Harvey’s laminectomy has fully healed. He doesn’t need the walker! He shouldn’t even be in any pain after his surgery because laminectomy relieves the pressure on the nerves that were being compressed. He’s faking.
4
No doubt Weinstein will serve a short while before requesting a compassionate and early release because of "health issues" and his age. . .
14
The Los Angeles case is much stronger and California Governors rarely grant compassionate release to violent felons. Rest assured Weinstein will remain in prison, however long his New York sentence turns out to be.
1
I hope this is just the start and women will not hesitate to confront the men who sexually abuse and attack them. And to the guys: Really? Come on, already. Learn to be real men.
45
@Alan hopefully they will speak straight away and not after decades!!
1
@Alan Except that the jury apparently "didn't believe" Annabella Sciorra. It's a reminder that women risk being called liars, gold diggers and worse just for reporting a rape. I didn't have any trouble believing her.
4
@Alan
" hope this is just the start and women will not hesitate to confront the men who sexually abuse and attack them. "
Agreed 100%, especially with the not hesitate part as it will eliminate the he said/she said aspect of these cases which sometimes justifiably complicates things when in the end it means sending someone to jail for a long time.
3
Thank you, so much, to all six women who testified and all the others who have spoken out.
126
People need to rethink and reexamine, any sexual relationship you are in, or may have been in, where there is, or appears to be, or may have been, a power imbalance.
8
@Lawrence
Can we go to the root first, imploring men to rethink every relationship they have been in or are presently in, in which a power imbalance is established and then exploited for their own sexual gratification?
5
No. MEN need to examine their behavior and start behaving better. And other men need to start holding these men accountable. It’s not all up to women. You guys need to take responsibility for your behavior and stop treating women so shamefully. If other men would stop covering for sexual predators, these situations wouldn’t be as pervasive. Stop the Old Boys Club mentality. Stop looking the other way when you know something is wrong. Call these guys out and stop making excuses and stop blaming women.
5
@JB
As women have gained power, they too became people. People in power can be exploitative. There are men of all orientations who had their sexual exploitation by women fuel their careers. People do what they think they have to do to survive.
Please inform the Swamp King that he has no pardon power over this case; sorry, Harvey … Not.
54
@The Lone Protester
Being in Germany I guess you don't realize that Trump would have no inclination to pardon Weinstein since this is a Democrat scandal through and through.
Read up and inform yourself who refused to prosecute this man for many years, and who that prosecutor was getting his marching orders from.
1
@Poppi
Trump would love to pardon someone convicted by the NYC DA office, the same office that is suing to get his financial records. He has not won any court battle yet about that yet, and the Supreme Court is due to decide the issue this Spring, so showing his unbridled power would be lovely for the Swamp King.
If the Weinstein case is "a crucial test in the effort to hold powerful men accountable for sexual harassment in the workplace" can we expect the behavior of Putin's trump will also be brought to justice one day?
I wouldn't hold my breath.
19
Waiting for Trump's tweet on the unfairness of the verdict.
69
@C . . . and exoneration. After all, boys will be boys, in Trump's world.
2
Actually, Trumps pardon.
1
@C No, he'll say that he barely knew Harvey and that he didn't really like any of his movies.
1
Will he have to stop using his fake walker when he goes to prison
35
Please do not let this end up like the Brock Turner case.....
5
How soon until Trump pardons him? After all, it was just “locker room” behavior.
1
@Xoxarle Never. It's a state law case in New York, and the President cannot pardon state level convictions, only federal. The federal government has some limitations on it's power, this being one of them.
32
Was he remanded pending sentence?
5
well, acquitted on four counts is sad...but it only takes one holdout out of 12 to make it happen.
is he going to take the walker to prision?
2
This is great news. I applaud the brave women who came forward to testify and their lawyers for breaking through the victim-blaming myths about sex crimes and the reactions of those affected by them. Damage is lasting and profound, responses often self-destructive without effective trauma care. It's about time that we, as a society, wake up to the attitudes and systems that enable such pervasive harm.
47
Not sure what the jurors were thinking on the two major counts. There seemed to be considerable evidence that the man is a predator.
18
@bruce They may have been raised in a predatory environment and so predation and exploitation is normal to them.
1
@bruce If you haven't ever done jury duty, it's difficult to understand sometimes what happens in that deliberation room. It's not as hard as you think to establish reasonable doubt
I believe Weinstein is a predator. Nonetheless, the jury clearly took their obligations seriously and delivered a verdict which will not satisfy everyone but is rational because of the complex post-attack factual history.
I hope the California case, which involves different victims, results in a harsher verdict.
623
@DSM14
Does perusing the California case seem like justice, or political posturing overkill? Do we need to spend more taxpayer money on this issue- especially since it is likely the man is going away for a very long time- if not the rest of his life? The point has been made. What is the point of another trial? Maybe it is justice for the victims. Maybe it is necessary. Just asking. But all the gloating comments really seem ugly and a bit too celebratory. But maybe not. Is it too early for a Scotch? Or too late?
2
@Mark Shyres . I can see why you would wonder about a second trial in California but the idea is to humiliate him like he humiliated his victims and eventually to bankrupt him. At least that is the message prosecutors and victims are sending.
Symbolically this would place him more or less in the same position he put his victims. Only the victims can never really be made whole. He will always have that over them but to compensate for that rub, he will be spending time in prison.
And that is how the American justice system do.
7
@DSM14 : I doubt he'll ever get to trial in California, or lives very long in prison.......He's definitely not equipped to defend himself!
The moral here is "believe the women." In the past, subsequent consensual sex by female accusers was often enough to raise reasonable doubt in these cases. No longer. Men will need to be sure they have affirmative consent before having sex from now on.
12
The wheels of justice turn slowly but grind exceedingly fine...
Shout amen, my sisters, shout amen!
34
If there wasn't reasonable doubt in this case, I don't know what case would.
5
I am curious as to how President Trump will react in response to this outcome.
8
It’s fascinating to me how many commenters are interested in President Trump’s reaction. I couldn’t care less.
Frankly, Weinstein was friendly with Democratic presidents so I would be more interested in the reaction of his ol’ buddy, President Clinton
3
@Timothy J. DiGiuseppe What does it have to do with him?
@Timothy J. DiGiuseppe He should be next.
Mr. Weinstein probably deserved more, but this is still a good outcome. I won't second guess the jury because I didn't hear the testimony. He still faces charges in California too. Rape in the 3rd degree is defined in New York Penal Code Section 130.25, et seq., as: "A person is guilty of rape in the third degree when he or she engages in sexual intercourse with another person:
Who is incapable of consent by reason of some factor other than being less than 17 years old;
Who is less than 17 years old, and the defendant is 21 years old or more; or
Without such person's consent, which is withheld for some other reason than incapacity to consent."
11
Rape in the 3rd degree is only four years, but the other charge is 5 to 25 years. Meanwhile, he is going to Rikers, not home, while he awaits sentencing. That's a win!
The Weinsteins and Smolletts of the world are finding that they can run but not hide.
13
@William What an odd statement. The two have nothing to do with each other, and nothing in common.
4
@William I don't remember Jessee Smollet being accused of rape?
I do hope Harvey has made his contribution to the “Make America Great Again” PAC in order to get his pardon.
20
@ScottC
These are state charges not federal charges brought against Weinstein. Trump can only pardon federal charges.
3
The President can’t pardon state crimes. Only the governor can.
3
@ScottC Sadly for Harvey he was found guilty of state felonies so outside of the warm embrace of 45.
3
I commend the jurors for performing their civic duty to the best of their abilities. This was a very difficult case fraught with so many legal, political, and social overtones.
An imperfect verdict for an imperfect case in an imperfect world.
22
Hallelujah!
10
Poor thing Harvey dear. But the yellow tennis balls cut in half were really cool.
18
Gratitude to the women who helped see justice served, despite the terror of reliving their trauma.
My heart goes out to all who have endured such assault by men far less powerful and famous. At least one in four women has gone through being used, abused or assaulted by an acquaintance.
All of you: I believe you, and you did not deserve or invite it.
95
But will he ever spend even a night in jail? This will be appealed as long as legally possible and unlike other convicted rapists, he'll likely be out on bond while the appeals are pending.
As with all the other powerful men committing crimes these days, I'll be shocked if I ever see him reporting for his orange jumpsuit.
57
@Nelle Engoron ,
I think your assessment is correct, sadly. Justice for the wealthy and powerful is not the same as for the rest of us. However, we can hold onto this: Harvey Weinstein lost his company, his livelihood and his reputation. I cannot imagine how he can rehabilitate all that. For men like him, that might be worse than prison.
4
@Nelle Engoron
Bonds are not an option for convicted criminals.
There is no evidence besides testimony in this case, so it is likely to be overturned on appeal as we simply cannot have a criminal justice system based on such principles.
1
@Nelle Engoron Did you read the article or just the headline? He is being sent immediately to jail to await sentencing.
16
I am so relieved. As a psychotherapist, the Weinstein story and the other stories (Woody Allen, Kobe Bryant etc.) have brought many women to my office as they are unable to keep their rape memories in the closet any longer. Many rape victims have been re-experiencing their trauma during this time and have needed professional help, and in many cases are dealing with their trauma for the first time because they never dealt with it when the incident happened. And yes, some of them continued to see their rapists. If Weinstein had been acquitted I was afraid there would have been suicides.
298
@Anne Today, a large segment of Los Angeles is paying tribute to Kobe Bryant. A young man born into luxury who excelled at putting a rubber ball through an iron hoop. An inspiration? Did he invent a cure for cancer? Did he feed the multitudes? No, but thousands of kids worked on their jump shot in hopes of a very long shot at a basketball career rather than hit the books, get a degree and go to work for the benefit of society. But you can't sell sugary soft drinks using hardworking medical research scientists, I guess.
26
@Anne Take Woody Allen off your list. He has NEVER been charged with ANY crime in 84 years. NEVER even credibly alleged of ANY crime or misdemeanor. A SINGLE allegation, made by a furious ex-partner at the height of an ugly divorce & bitter custody battle - precisely the moment when most FALSE allegations are made - was thoroughly investigated. TWO independent child abuse expert instances concluded in no uncertain terms that the child had NOT been abused. Indications were found she had been 'coached' to tell about the abuse. A custody Judge advised AGAINST prosecuting Allen for abuse, because he did NOT find the evidence credible. A NY Adoption Center did not believe the evidence either, and allowed Allen to adopt two children with his wife Soon-Yi Previn. These daughters are ADULT now and have both spoken out publicly in DEFENSE of their father against baseless allegations in the media. Mia Farrow's son Moses had said right away in 1992 that Mia's abuse allegation was FALSE and only made out of revenge. He has repeated this account in 2018.
So please RESPECT the FACTS and the CLEAR outcome of due process. and stop associating an innocent person with rape or abuse.
17
@Dave
Good point but don't know what it has to do with the subject at hand.
1
Got him on two. It will just have to do.
22
There’s still California. He’s facing rape charges here.
I hope this sets a Precedent to require other accused Rapists get a fair hearing in a Court.
2
Not nearly enough, considering the lives she destroyed, the first time, and then in the years and years of effort it took how many women(?) to get even this far? Not nearly enough, but better than nothing.
14
@Lilly I think you’ve got a typo? You mean he, don’t you?
Not only was justice given to the victims, but his lawyer's sleazy behavior throughout this trial has been thoroughly repudiated.
54
he'll appeal the two guilty verdicts and they'll be overturned on appeal, once separated from all the other smokescreens.
5
@mufngruf Unlikely to be overturned. More likely he will out on bail until his death.
Well time to lose to lose the walker aka prop. Thankfully a solid and moralistic jury seen right through his attempts to look feeble and innocent. Good riddance
22
are they holding him, or does he get to walk out of court. I want to see him cuffed and stuffed
14
Will Trump pardon him?
4
@sg Trump doesn't have jurisdiction in state courts.
10
@sg It's a state case, he cannot. Otherwise he certainly would.
2
@sg Trump could only pardon him for federal charges. These are NY charges. Not gonna happen.
2
Hallelujah
It’s a little bit safer world for us all already.
15
Now someone else Trump can pardon.
4
@Wayne Ah, but he cannot. In the United States the president can only pardon federal crimes. Only New York's Governor can pardon him, and he's definitely not going to do that.
4
These are state charges. Trump has no authority over state cases. Only Gov. Cuomo and he’s not going to risk his political career to save Harvey Weinstein.
3
Not to worry. Trump will pardon him.
6
@December State court.... Trump cannot pardon.
3
Again, Trump has no authority over state cases...only federal cases. The only person who could pardon Harvey Weinstein is Gov. Andrew Cuomo. And there’s no chance of that happening. Not if he wants to continue to be governor or has any other political aspirations.
4
@December How can you be an informed citizen worthy of the right to vote if you do not know what the powers of the presidency are?
The president has no authority over state courts, only federal courts. The governor could pardon Weinstein, the president cannot.
1
The two guilty verdicts are some significant measure of justice for the many victims of Harvey Weinstein.
Questions remain however. How could liberal, woke Hollywood have tolerated this predatory behavior (which was in plain view) for so long?
And how did Weinstein’s expensive female defense lawyer kick up so much dust to prevent conviction on the more serious charges of being a sexual predator?
12
@Alice In Wonderland
Like the movie title: Some came running.
2
@Alice In Wonderland Who says Hollywood is woke? Not anyone I know.
5
You could also write a different headline: NOT guilty on three counts.
6
@RMM Some of the counts where mutually exclusive, i.e. if found guilty on higher, not on lower.
1
@RMM Nope... that's not how it goes. He was not convicted of 3 of the counts, which isn't the same as not being guilty. We don't know the jury split and this certainly doesn't mean he's exonerated. There could have been one hold out... who didn't think the evidence was strong enough or didn't rise to level of no reasonable doubt.
2
@RMM Equally misleading. The whole story can't fit into a headline. Headlines are intended to entice someone to read the article, not to be a concise summary of the whole article.
1
Phew! So glad he was found guilty. Now we need to find our president guilty.
45
Personal accountability is something that is lacking in so many accounts of wealthy men leading large businesses that hide behind the funding of corporate lawyers.
This must stop and disgusting misogynists like Trump, Kavanaugh, every male host on Fox, and even Bloomberg need to get their public day of reckoning.
Warren showed that you call them out to Release Women from their bondage of NDAs.
Make them illegal and you will have change!
32
@Drewpy NDAs have a place to settle matters. If you make them illegal, you are taking away an effective tool for settling matters. Some matters do not rise to the level of going to trial.
While this is a partial vindication for all of the women who were victims of Harvey Weinstein's predatory behavior, it is only just that- a partial victory. Perhaps the #metoo movement can continue to support all people who are victims to file complaints immediately - so there is no statute of limitations to contend with - and do more to support those who are predatory victims to file their complaints in a timely manner within the police department with members of the force specifically trained to work with trauma victims. If this sounds unrealistic to file sooner rather than later - it will prevent plenty of legal maneuvering down the road - which only re-traumatizes the individual filing the complaint. Wishing all those who were victimized by this predator some peace of mind after his sentencing.
176
@kkm Filing a police report sooner rather than later is not only a citizen's duty, it is necessary for many of us (me included) to have any faith in these proceedings.
I will never recognize the legitimacy of criminal convictions based solely on testimony. And most people won't either.
1
@kkm
The most positive result from this will not so much benefit the myriad victims of this predator, but the generation of young women now and in the future.
Sad sociopaths and predators like this man will not hold power over women from now on. They will not rise in society and most will check their urges.
5
@kkm He wasn't convicted of predatory behavior. though. But perhaps you know better than the impartial members of the jury that put their lives on hold and weighed all the evidence presented by both sides in the courtroom.
He will appeal, of course. And chances are that he won't get much time. He has a lot of friends in New York, people he has done many favors for.
I hope I'm wrong.
12
The jury only delivered a half-hearted guilty verdict. Weinstein's not going to pay the price he should be paying.
26
@MTB
He also has to go to trail in California.
The days of the casting couch are over thanks to these courageous women.
54
@cynthia Let us hope.
2
Thank you to all the women who testified and everybody who supported these women and the many others who told their own stories. A free press is a wonderous gift. I, for one, bless it every day. Special thanks to The New York Times and the The New Yorker.
507
@Marie I agree with all your comments but this one: sadly, this press isn't free. We've all paid subscriptions to be able to view this news. I much prefer the Guardian's model of asking for donations - which we happily give in order to keep news truly free.
And my partner and I give them far more than we pay for this subscription.
13
@GW
Let’s support as much of the press that we can. There’s not nearly as many news sources still able to operate and we need all of the legitimate ones that we have right now.
It’s about free to report and that means having the resources to pay investigative reporters etc. When the paper was literally only in paper form, we didn’t expect it to be free nor did we think the cost was only about the actual physical item.
Whether by charge or donation, it takes money to operate. I used to rely on food donations to eat. I’m now able to give gift subscriptions (and eat) and don’t take the food on my table or access to real information for granted.
Thank you for supporting the Guardian. But please don’t discourage others from supporting NYT or their local paper or whatever is possible for them.
10
@GW
I didn't have the sense that Marie mean, "free", as in, you don't have to pay. My take was she meant free press as regards the 1st Amendment. We pay because the journalists have to put food on their tables, too.
20
Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of 'predatory':
"inclined or intended to injure or exploit others for personal gain or profit".
So the jury found that Weinstein did not meet the definition according to a dictionary? That there was no exploitation? That he did not do it for personal gain?
I find it hard to believe.
88
that could be different than the legal definition to be fair.
12
@Calgarian Jurors in a criminal case are tightly constrained by the instructions provided by the judge. Dictionary definitions are subordinated to legal definitions as outlined in the law. For jurors this can be extremely frustrating. They want to apply common sense standards but have to follow the judge's instructions which can severely limit the jury's options.
51
@Metaphor
There's no room for "common sense" in the law.
Good.
18
Why when these men go to trial (Manafort, Weinstein, etc.) are they suddenly in wheelchairs and using walkers?
339
@John W Probably advice from their lawyers, not from their doctors.
39
@John W : To soften the jury: It worked this time.
23
@John W
They all read about Vinnie the Chin Gigante, the mobster who wore a bathrobe and pyjamas to court...he was found guilty too....
17
Have Weinstein should not walk out of court today. Like anyone else convicted of rape and with more charges pending in California he should be cuffed and led to a cell pending his appeal!
130
@J. Clark he did get cuffed and taken to jail (it was in the article).
12
@J. Clark That's exactly what played out. Mr. Weinstein was remanded to custody awaiting his sentencing. It will be quite a while before he's on the street again, as he's facing a minimum sentence of 5 years.
And there's his Los Angeles trial awaiting him, as well, during which he will have the additional burden of now being a convicted felon.
A very bleak future indeed awaits Mr. Weinstein.
11
@J. Clark
The article says he was handcuffed and taken into custody.
2
Not sure how or why the jury was not able to agree upon a verdict of "predatory sexual assault" when it seems to obvious and clear from the cheap seats, I am relieved and grateful that at least this monster was found guilt of "a felony sex crime and rape".
I was fearful he was going to get off and walk out, without the aid of his walker, of the court room.
A sincere thank you to the jury for finding Weinstein guilty of at least two charges.
96
@Marge Keller
Evidence being "obvious and clear from the cheap seats" where you and I sit is not the same as how it was presented in the courtroom. There is a difference.
That's why "knowing" someone's guilty is not the same as being proven guilty.
Having said this, buh bye Harv.
9
@helton
You are absolutely correct.
I could not have served on that jury because of my obvious bias. I did and still do believe the testimony of the women who came forward.
I do NOT know for sure of his guilt but your statement of "being proven guilty" is so spot on and accurate.
Thanks for realigning my compass to the facts rather than emotion.
12
Paging Peter Nygard--your appointment with destiny may be arriving soon.
36
When you can get as little as probation for rape, it is time to fundamentally change the laws surrounding the most violent crimes against women; sex crimes. Let us hope the charges in Los Angeles are more substantial.
51
@Anonymous : And that the verdict will be more worthwhile too.
5
@Anonymous
I doubt he will get probation. A former judge said in this thread, that 5 years is the minimum.
3
@Anonymous
5 years in prison minimum, 25 years maximum.
Probation only is not a statutory sentence for either felony count.
Did he chuck his fancy walker into the jury box?
18
Weinstein better have contributed to Republicans or he’s not going to get a pardon.
12
I am pleased he has been convicted of something after all the women he has abused. But what about all the other people who were complicit in what he did? They should have been made to testify to what they did to assist him.
22
Who says there's no good news anymore?
26
Wonderful news, however there are many more loose ends to this case. There were many enablers over the years. Harvey did not operate in a vacuum, there were many others who knew and turned a blind eye, including his ex -wives.
86
Just what I was thinking. The enablers committed crimes against these women to facilitate his crimes.
14
@M
I suspect many very well-known actresses, and actors, knew of Weinstein's behavior, but kept quiet to protect their careers. No one wanted to be the one to raise concerns, lest studio execs consider them troublemakers. An Irish actress, Sarah Green, who just stared in a STARZ series, said she was are of Weinsteins' reputation years ago, so I'm sure most American actresses knew as well.
4
@Lilly
See the film, "The Assistant", now in theaters, to see how it works...the sad truth behind the lines...probably not too far from reality. A well written, well acted depiction of the basic playbook.
3
I applaud the courageous victims who testified. Unless you've been in their shoes, you can't genuinely comprehend how challenging it is to revisit those dreadful experiences under the scrutiny of the public and press. The lawyers, of course, were likely very difficult to endure, too.
Hopefully, we have all learned from this. Those who turned a blind eye and/or facilitated Weinstein's freedom to do as pleased, ideally, will behave differently in the future.
285
And that list of facilitators is very long, too.
May they also rot.
8
Justice has been served
52
Thank you to the women who testified.
812
This is some justice.
he was a predator. i guess the guise of the walker worked. how predatory could a dude in a walker be after all? in the new us, appearance is everything, and patterns of behavior are like "fake news." rich dudes still win. over and over and over.
#IBelieveTheWomen
210
This is wonderful news. All my hats off to the jury.
34
Encouraging verdicts. Let's hope he doesn't go home during appeal.
50
Not enough.
126
Good to see justice done during a time of so many injustices. Hopefully this convicted rapist will receive a lengthy prison term without presidential interference.
25
@SCrystal
Trump can only pardon those convicted of Federal crimes; he can't do anything about Weinstein who was convicted is stare crimes.
2
He can toss that walker now. Hope he donates it.
676
@Fern - I think he has another trial coming up in CA so he'll probably keep it for a while! At least some justice was done.
62
@Fern • My thoughts precisely. I almost expect him to throw the walker at prosecutors in a rage and walk out of court at full height.
25
@Fern
My thought is that the post-verdict "ambulance" is as much a ruse as the walker. Being in the hospital beats being in jail.
7
Thank you for the live updates! It is a somber, but validating moment for all women to know that even men at the top of the social food chain will reap what they sow. This verdict will change America for the better.
103
Jury activism. There was plenty of reasonable doubt in this case. The jury chose to convict anyway. I'm curious how his appeal will go considering a juror lied about her dealings in this subject matter (publishing a book). I see this being thrown out on appeal, but who knows? At least there's some measure of justice for those who he victimized.
34
@Jason How do you know? Did you watch every minute of the trial, including the charge to the jury?
10
@Jason
If you knew Harvey as I did your reasonable doubt would be eradicated.
17
The jury disagreed with your assessment on reasonable doubt.
11
Justice has been served. Weinstein is going to prison, and he still faces charges in Los Angeles County. A big win for #MeToo.
201
@Ron S. : It's a good beginning. May women have the courage and strength to face these perpetrators and say, "No more".
No. More.
3
Finally there is justice for some of his victims. I commend them for the bravery to come forward. It is horrifying to think that they were silenced for so many years, or that Harvey's predatory attitudes and the culture it fostered went on so much longer than many of us thought it did.
359
Finally he will face some consequences. And maybe men will start to realize our bodies are ours unless we specifically say we want their advances. Before anyone bashes me, I know most men are awesome, I married one. But for the ones who don't get it, maybe they will think a little harder in the future, or listen to us when we say "no thank you."
62
@VKP
Most men are not awesome
1
@Thinking
ok, maybe many men are fine, many aren't and I wouldn't go so far as to say most and I wouldn't say awesome because if most men were awesome they would not allow the bad behavior on so many levels against women, including "allowing" them l do most of the housework and childcare, to be happening. the current state of women's freedoms and safety would not be like this if most men were awesome.
Maybe most men act like they are awesome, or imagine they are awesome, or want you to pretend that they are awesome, that may be true.
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