There’s a Senior Discount on jail time!
2
The women whom he victimized and for years said nothing allowed Harvey to victimize many more women. Those enablers should be jailed in the same cell with Harvey. He assaulted women for almost forty years. How could anyone be so cold to allow him to continue assaulting other women? Heartless.
4
The defense regarding sentencing: "a longer term than five years 'is likely to constitute a de facto life sentence.'"
Too Bad...he ruined scores of women's lives - give him the full 29 years. Bye bye Harvey.
13
I can see a pardon or clemency granted by Donald Trump coming soon after sentencing. It seems the well-connected receive this treatment from 45. And birds of a feather...
20
@captain canada Thankfully this is a state crime and sentence, not Federal. No Trump rescue possible here.
20
We can only speculate about how many other predator's names died with Jeffery Epstein.
Harvey Weinstein is merely one of countless rich and powerful men who abuse their positions in society to prey on socially and economically weaker individuals. The vast majority of these social predators will never be held accountable until the enablers and witnesses step forward, are heard and taken seriously by our justice system.
26
The life expectancy for a 67 year old man in the US is 16.5 years. His lawyers are lying to court.
12
He's only sorry that he got caught.
How about a year or two for each accusation? Not conviction, accusation, since in 12 years it couldn't all get to trial. If he's only got about 12 years to live, it won't matter to him - much, but maybe someone else out there (and you can be certain there are people out there still doing this - just odds, opportunities and privilege) might notice.
Ms. Maxwell, anyone?
10
A disturbed man he is, but never one who has admitted - or believes -that he used women as some sort of living sex toys, and that his actions are reprehensible. His ploys have gotten him into Bellevue instead of Rikers, and his attorney is arguing that Weinstein's loss in STATUS should be sufficient to replace 5 to 10 years in prison: hid desire for "heavy therapy" is about 40 to 50 years too late.
He is NOT a person who did not understand that his actions would be seen as wrong. Let him learn what it feels like to to be powerless.
21
He's looking at 29 years, his defense team wants 5, so 17 years sounds about right, because Harvey will never again set foot outside of prison.
Goodbye, Harvey Weinstein, may your name serve as a warning to all who seek to use their positions of power and authority to exploit and harm the powerless.
22
so HW is actively attempting to produce his hopefully final film redefining his life work...the final perversion and public manipulation of his image...I'm sure his prison audience will be greatly impressed
9
This horrible monster ought to be subject to a defacto life sentence. The many women he abused will most certainly live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of their lives.
6
He only wanted to right his wrongs once he was caught. Until then, he was content.
The punishment should fit the crime. If that means it ends up being a life sentence for a man who spent his life terrorizing women and perpetrating violence against women, well, then so be it.
30
I have a feeling that tomorrow will be a really good day; NYC prosecutors are out for blood and the cherry on the sundae will be when CA charges him with even more serious crimes. I hope he never sees another free day. Let him be the big shot at Rikers and see how far it gets him.
21
Weinstein wasn't the only powerful Hollywood type with a casting couch. Where are the others? Why did it stop in Hollywood with Harvey? Why is there no outrage to name the others?
13
For all the people who questioned the veracity of the many courageous women who came forward to share their stories of humiliation, as if they were somehow capitalizing on Weinstein's fame, these communiques from him are proof beyond reasonable doubt that he is guilty as charged. I only hope that he doesn't have access to any female prison guards while serving his sentence.
17
@Kathleen Rogers actually being subjected to female authority seems apprpriate.
9
How typical. A victimizer recasts himself as a victim. As for his claim that he was subjected to child abuse; a main tenant in relapse prevention for sex offenders is that while a majority of offenders have been abused the vast majority of people who have been abused do not become offenders. You can't use it as a rationale.
20
I share his brother's sentiment. This is a remorseless person who still only cares about himself. The best thing to do is let him be alone and suffer his own company and thoughts.
The authorities are also responsible for making sure he can never harm a single person ever again. If he ever gets another chance, heads everywhere must roll and roll they must.
13
Based on percentages, he was only convicted of a fraction of the rapes and sexual assaults he committed. His sentence should not be reduced just because he is old. I am fine with Mr. Weinstein dying in prison, and I imagine all of his victims are as well.
15
To me this was never about Weinstein.
It is about how, we, as a society have failed to act to protect our sisters and daughters, time after time for 30 years.
It is about what are we doing about it now.
31
And to think that there are thousands of Weinsteins at large mostly abusing children who do not understand or remember what happened.
4
The only reason he is an old man in jail is that he got away with it for so long. As for compassion, perhaps he can comfort himself with fond memories of living large while destroying other people's lives. But I repeat myself. I submitted the exact same comment in response to the Bernie Maddoff plea for leniency and early release.
21
So Weinstein's lawyers don't want him given a "virtual life sentence," do they? Well what about the life he's already had? He started harming his victims 40 years ago, so he's had 40 years of freedom he didn't deserve already. Forty years of wealth, success, and depredation he wouldn't have had if our system was fair and just. That's enough. Lock him up and throw away the key.
17
Mr. Weinstein will have plenty of time to reflect on his behavior in prison. I hope he gets the maximum sentence.
I pray his victims will be able to heal.
4
Weinstein was trying to cash in favors. Probably has dirt on some of these people.
12
If I was the prosecutor, I’d borrow Donna Rotunno’s mantra of “personal responsibility” and remind the court that Harvey Weinstein had many opportunities to NOT commit rape in the third degree and a criminal sexual act in the first degree.
I’d also remind the court Weinstein had many opportunities afterwards to take “personal responsibility” for his crimes and turn himself in and make restitution by any means available to him.
And finally, I’d remind the court of its responsibility to deliver a punishment that allows for the protection and deterrence a society at large deserves while considering the compassion Ms. Rotunno seeks.
31
Who wants to bet that Harvey sheds that walker the minute he hits prison... since looking weak will no longer be an asset?
63
Why is it when an old white guy who is obviously guilty is sentenced, the argument goes: any more than 5 years is a defacto life sentence.
There are young men, especially but not exclusively of color, but with limited means who have held up stores or committed other crimes. Some of them spend over 20 years in jail. That may not be your whole life, but it is the majority of your young and most productive life.
Nigel Poor, profiled by PBS and host of the podcast Ear Hustle was sentenced to 31 years for robbery. I do not want to diminish his crimes, but how does one get 31 years for robbery (even under a three strikes law) but you only get 5 for sexual assault?
Being rich and white, that's how.
111
@Bill And also because money is more valuable than women's equality and humanity.
9
@Bill Harvey should have never been charged since the Statute of Limitations had expired. If a person was actually assaulted or raped they would immediately go to the police and file a report. Funny that not even one of his many, many accusers did what most women would have done. I can't get past that. He must really know how to choose victims. Took 40 years for anyone to speak up.
2
@Bill
Great points. It's Earlonne Woods who was sentenced 31 years though. Nigel Poor, the visual artist, is his cohost.
3
I'm 68 years old, born in the same New York era of Harvey Weinstein and raised by a single parent with two siblings and for the life of me I have to ask Mr. Weinstein: Did your mother not teach you basic manners, as mine did, about how women should be treated ? I suspect she tried to but somewhere, something deeply-seeded, went wrong.
35
Bob Weinstein's astonishment seems a little too astonished. There is also guilt by ignoring what's plainly in front of one. If Tina Fey knew enough about Weinstein's behavior to make jokes about it on 30 Rock, how could his own brother and business partner not?
57
"Noting that the life expectancy of someone Mr. Weinstein’s age is about 12 years, they argued a longer term than five years “is likely to constitute a de facto life sentence.”
So much for decorum - asking for a lenient sentence because he is "that age" - vividly points out the self serving nature of Mr. Weinstein and in turn his lawyers. He could in fact decide to work out in prison - thus extending his expected lifespan.....
127
Not to mention the fact that he spent years actively threatening witnesses and otherwise obstructing justice so he could continue offending with impunity- and his counsel plead this in mitigation?
75
@g zurbay Actually, the life expectancy for a 67 year-old man is sixteen and a half years, not twelve.
30
It appears that you’re using an age-based average.
I’m quite sure that Weinstein’s lawyer’s “average” is at least theoretically based on his current & medical problems/issues etc.....
I didn’t see a lot of details regarding the issue, but it sounded as if he may have had a coronary artery stent placed following the verdict. Stents are commonly places for coronary artery disease/atherosclerosis.
The life expectancy for a male of his age with CAD requiring a stent may very well be lower.
2
To play Devil's advocate, a not so handsome guy works his way to a position of power and acclaim in a business that attracts an overabundance of beautiful young women, some vulnerable, some not, and finds he can have sex with many of them. A common enough practice that the term "casting couch" is widely understood. Sounds like a lot of men's fantasy, like it or not (The consensus seems not). My question is, why would he stop? He'd certainly rationalize any uncomfortable encounters as benefitting both parties, since he had the power to bestow fame. He seems to be the recipient of an astronomical amount of vitriol. I didn't hear claims of him physically abducting anyone. He used a position of power to get what most men want.
12
He did not physically abduct any of them but he DID physically ASSAULT many of them. These women testified that He did not proposition them and offer sex in exchange for fame or a part in a movie and the wait for their answer (as in yes or no to the offer). He forced himself on the women in many cases- this is assault. And it is illegal.
He may have also propositioned some and accepted if they said no and not yes BUT that doesn’t change the fact that he assaulted other women. And that is illegal.
89
@Syd
That is a very sick comment.
87
@Syd Agreed, but I believe that he raped Annabella Sciorra, so *thats* different for sure.
16
It is hard to believe this poor old man, Mr. Weinstein, who can barely get about with a walker, overpowered over a platoon of athletic, ambitious, star-minded women and forced sex on them. How is this possible? The visual evidence defies common sense.
It is well known that many women are not above using their sexual wiles to get ahead. Is it possible that Harvey Weinstein is just another victim of our slick, legal system with all its loopholes and dense, cryptic language?
13
@Bill Oh puhleeze! If he had been found not guilty, he'd have been tap dancing down the aisle of the courtroom. That poor old man.
149
@Bill That is of the funniest joke posts I've read in a while.
150
@Bill Are you aware he did not use a walker until after he was charged?
143
So what if he gets a life sentence? He should have thought about the risks when he was raping all those women. It’s clear he’s not penitent. Who’s to say he wouldn’t find a way to do it again?
167
The defense argues that since Weinstein will probably live 12 more years (presumably based on actuarial tables), a sentence longer than five years “is likely to constitute a de facto life sentence.”
Since he faces up to 29 years, being free for seven years -- more than half of the rest of his life -- seems incredibly generous, especially considering the number of traumatized women he has left in his wake. There are a lot of less affluent people who are serving longer sentences than five years for crimes that did not include rape.
I have a better idea. Let’s sentence him to 20 years and see how he is in 15. He’ll be up for parole at some point and if he’s in poor health, perhaps he can request Compassionate Release. Of course, either of those would require that he take responsibility for his crimes.
So maybe a life sentence is appropriate after all.
208
Mr Weinstein is man who behaved badly and should be punished for the crimes that he did to other women. There is no excuse for his behavior.
161
The women he assaulted got « a de facto life sentence « . Seems only fair he should too.
100
Harvey Weinstein is a bully. It was common knowledge in the media industry for many, many years. Bullying is about power. Just like rape. He deserves so much more than what he got in this trial. Maybe prison can make up for that.
73
Had it all but lost it because he couldn’t control his appetite for sex.
11
@BJ It's less about sex and more about power and control.
31
Weinstein is a violent criminal, not a doddering old man with a walker and a perpetual frown. He is a royal recidivist, a plague on society, the kind of person whose picture should be in the post office. He should rot in The Tombs until final sentencing, then sent to Attica to bunk with the worst that society has to offer. Mazel tov, Weinstein. Time wounds all heels.
66
@H. Clark: Mazel Tov? If Harvey Weinstein had any Jewish religious training, it's clear that its ethical precepts were never taught to him.
@H. Clark I must remember that .. "Time wounds all heels!" Good one.
Harvey's just a big lovable bundle of excitable man puppy. He's no more guilty of abuse than a wild goat in spring.
4
I mean, all the unpleasantries aside, he's probably a great guy.
3
@Raven Probably not. After all we know about his conduct would you accept an invitation to go to his hotel room for a meeting?
7
@Raven
"Yes, Mrs. Lincoln, but outside of that, how was the play?"
19
Harvey Weinstein traveled with assistants for years similar to the one he abandoned on the trip. It would be impossible for them not to know about this activity, just as his brother had to know about it. Why are we only hearing from one or two? Some made careers in production. Will those persons be sued for aiding and abetting? Why not a clean sweep with this broom?
24
Recently I read in the LAT a profile of a doctor who resettled in LA (based out of USC) from Philly to practice street medicine for homeless people. I was impossible not to really admire someone who could have easily chose be tending to wealthy clients. I unconsciously thought to myself that he's the anti-Weinstein.
21
Bob Weinstein's emails sound as if they were written for the day he knew they would be leaked. He was shocked, shocked! Is it really possible he knew nothing about his brother's shenanigans over 30 years?
48
That seems a little harsh. I thought she was quite good in “Office Space”.
6
Based on the pictures I've seen of him using a walker, I would say he's faking his need for a walker. The very first thing they will tell you is to never let the walker get that far "in front" of the person using it. You can't support and steady yourself when the walker is that far away. I doesn't matter if he can stand up straight or not the walker should be positioned close to his body and the height adjusted as needed for his hands.
Besides that bit of opinion, I hope they throw the book at him. It's too bad it's unlikely that they will prosecute any of his enablers or folks who covered for him all these years.
70
The responses to Weinstein's emails all seem to be on the up-and-up, with people either ignoring him or calling him out. However, "Mr. Bezos did not respond to an email requesting comment" raises... questions.
9
The only thing he hasn't said is that he will be absolved by history.
4
Ahh, meet the newest member of the "woe-is-me" whine club. He should contact the WH for his membership card.
66
Yo, so here's a bad man. Mentally unbalanced, manipulative, in denial and unapologetic, who abused and hurt women. The court and jury has confirmed this. How many men are there out there like him? In Hollywood and perhaps even in Congress and high political places. Or corporations. How many CEOs have resigned recently? Let's bring these abusing people out into the open -- ladies gather your courage and stand up against for what you've gone through! I have my stories, and I'm sure many other women have theirs too. NYTimes are you listening?
48
I am sorry - many of the women ‘played’ along with the old rules. Not fair to ‘complain’ now. By this logic we should move all ‘founding’ fathers into the gutters of history.
Bye bye. Should have worked out a bit over the past year.
7
So I guess a charm offensive is off the table.
34
Weinstein acted exactly like a criminal who tries every appeal to elicit sympathy with displays of remorse not out of conscience but out of fear of being convicted and sentenced to the maximum extent of the law. Such people if given leniency will feel emboldened to resume their egregious behavior at the earliest opportunity. Weinstein is an older man whose libido fell to infrequent long ago. He is not acting because of raging hormones but from habits of exploiting others with impunity for a very long time. He should do a lot of prison time.
45
67? He doesn't look a day over 87.
44
It would be good if everyone stopped using the word "monster." What Weinstein did, and the depravity he represents are both execrable, but he is a human. Objectifying him and stripping of of that identity distances him from the rest of us, who are also capable of extreme and ugly behavior (but do not stoop to it - which is obviously a crucial difference). We humans are not angels or monsters or devil - but something much more complex and interesting and potentially dangerous than any of those things.
38
@Adam Phillips
I fully agree with this.
1
I agree.
Just an “ordinary criminal” would do.
The whole spectacle is such a drag. I would look forward to Miramax product because it was generally well done interesting film. Same with Weinstein productions. Now my stomach turns when I see the logos.
16
@Matt, ugh, ain’t it the truth. As well, I wonder if other women in the cast who weren’t stars/couldn’t speak out got abuse—and if their careers survived.
3
One used to be rightfully appalled by the sight of a beached whale. One still should. Yet a closer look is demanded.
3
Sickening and sadly not surprising. Impunity ranks ever higher in our list of societal problems. We shouldn't think Weinstein is a rare thing.
11
Really, the argument that Harvey Weinstein is a victim of ANY sort seems implausible. At some point, an intelligent and very successful person should have enough self knowledge to examine their own actions and recognize a need to make some changes. Perhaps if there had been ANY hint that Weinstein EVER attempted to use his vast resources to change his behavior instead of for silencing his victims through threats and smearing of reputations...
To those who are given much, much is expected. By contrast, Harvey's motto seems more like "to those who are given much, using those gifts to take more from others in a coarse and violent fashion is acceptable".
25
Put him in jail. He's earned it. His using power to disadvantage women working for him is heinous.
56
This man is a narcissist and master manipulator. He deserves to live out the rest of whatever is left of his life in prison. There’s no rehabilitation for a 67-year old who’s assaulted at least 90 women over the course of the past several years: that’s serial sexual predation. And he was married with kids to boot.
96
By way of comparison, the lawyer brother of a high school friend was charged with bilking $4 million in a real estate scam. Four accomplices plead guilty and got 5 years each. He decided to fight it with $100,000 in legal fees given to him by his 92 year old mother from my friend's inheritance.
He got 32 years in federal prison, no parole.
32 years no parole. No rape involved.
74
@slangpdx
Money and messing with money is often drawing worse punishments/incarcerations than murder.
The bureaucrats will hit back harder when you mess with their bottom lines.
18
Obviously, his victims were ‘important’ people.
The banks stole Americans’ homes and destroyed their lives anno one went to jail for that.
13
It is really quite amazing that Bob Weinstein who worked so closely with his brother for so many years would turn on him so savagely and so publicly. If anyone thought Bob didn't know about or had some part in Harvey's activities, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I want to sell you.
I wonder if Bob Weinstein will be called in some capacity in his brother's trail in California and London, where, I believe, a case is also building.
49
Of late, Weinstein has come to resemble the personification of one or more of the Deadly Sins, as portrayed in Medieval paintings.
In his hunch over his walker, he looks reptilian, like a slithering snake, perhaps denoting Fornication, Avarice, or Greed.
Those medieval artists were painting for an illiterate audience.
But today, we see the resurgence of powerful imagery - in Weinstein’s props, stoop, and overall demeanor.
He is a walking, talking portrayal of the Fall of Man, as if playing a role in a traveling pageant play, circa 1305.
“Beware sinners,” the carnival barker shouts. “And force your eyes upon this Fallen Man. Study him well, lest ye fall into the Pit of Damnation.”
93
@Space Needle
Very good call.
5
And we wonder why a man like Trump gets to be president. Getting away with sexual assault and perhaps a host of other things, Harvey Weinstein is the tip of the iceberg. In many circles this man was someone to be courted and perhaps envied. He doesn't have good looks or charisma. He is manipulative and gets even when he is scorned. Some may feel that is a good role model.
40
Cry me a river, Harvey.
49
I've noticed rich people are not overly fond of jail. Must be the food.
I predict Harvey will 86 himself within a year.
46
I predict the camera’s will be conveniently tuned off when it happens.
14
Weinstein’s behavior during his trial and after it shows just how manipulative he is. His “feel sorry for me I’m too weak to do anything that I am accused of” act is disgusting for most women and victims is sexual assault to watch. If he can spend all this time and energy trying to manipulate the public’s opinion, it doesn’t take a giant leap to come to believe he is a degenerate behind closed doors. This man has been found guilty. No more sweet “power deals” that benefit Weinstein instead of providing justice for his victims. He needs to pay for his crimes. He needs to be in jail for a long long time. He wants us to feel sorry for him. Did he ever feel sorry for his victims? No. He felt entitled. Now he’s entitled to go to prison.
88
12 years sounds good
26
Kinda funny how Harvey is the only person in the world who can't believe he's been found guilty.
62
@Andrew
Reminds me of Bush II friend and Enron head "Kenny Boy" Lay. Did criminal stuff running Enron, no problem. Enron goes bankrupt, no problem. Gets indicted for crimes, no problem, and keeps making the rounds of swank restaurants in Houston where he no doubt failed to realize he was no longer welcome.
Gets convicted of crimes, dies of a heart attack.
28
@slangpdx, yeah, often the only strength people like this really have is the power/fear/status they think they see in others’ eyes. When that goes, it’s devastating physically and mentally.
5
I had an odd encounter with a Miramax employee from London years ago. Sort of a laspe of ethical judgment. Now I think I understand the enviroment they worked in. It always puzzled me but with a boss like this how could you work and not be affected psychologically. Makes sense now. People need to stand up to abusive bosses. My little two cents!
43
@GB
There’s a good movie about this kind of atmosphere—“The Assistant,” with the wonderful Julia Garner.
12
Death wish for a famous actress who dared to complain should go over well at his upcoming trial in L.A.
147
@GreaterMetropolitanArea:
I do not recall anyone so succinctly shedding any sliver of sympathy that might, in theory, have existed for them.
11
She allegedly DID NOT even “complain”.
3
The man is definitely being punished for his crimes. The last place you’d want to recover from heart surgery is from the inside of a prison.
12
@Marshall: Modern US Prisons have very good medical care facilities and Weinstein will get plenty of rest.
11
@Marshall He’s there for a reason...his own bad acts. Think of the damage done to the young women, especially if he gets out of prison quickly. It would be pretty dismissive of the crimes he has committed.
20
Marshall, I am guessing you have never been a victim of sexual abuse. If you were capable of empathy, you would not view Weinstein as a victim of the Law, you would see Justice being served.
36
The good news, as pointed out by Harv. Weinstein’s hapless, desperate legal team .. decision on sentencing can look at all information, history, reports, witness statements, as his lawyers want his charitable efforts and other good deeds to influence his sentence. Good. 30 years of wicked manipulation, abuse, grooming, lying, crimes and predatory behavior SHOULD show around a 50 to 1 ratio of bad to good, and sentence accordingly, say ... 18 years with minimum of 12 years in a cage.
32
“All I’m asking for is, let me take a leave of absence and get into heavy therapy and counseling whether it be in a facility or somewhere else, and allow me to resurrect myself with a second chance.”
Really?
He wants to "resurrect himself with a second chance"?
This statement came from the same person who said all of his sexual encounters with the women who testified against him were consensual.
What a pathetic and disturbed human being.
A sincere thank you to the jury for convicting him.
269
@Marge Keller Yeah. I found that statement really...something when you consider how many actresses whose first chances he took away. What he did to Rose McGowan alone is unforgivable.
20
@Lucy Gillam
Could not agree more.
I think the term slim is being overgenerous in his case.
7
@Marge Keller I'm a little disturbed to think that the people he named could have potentially influenced his treatment. Why did he think they could? What did he know that we don't know?
5
'"Are you sure a rabbi or someone didn’t do things to you when you were a little boy?” Mr. Benza asked Mr. Weinstein, according to court documents. Mr. Benza added, “It takes a monster to make a monster.”'
Not always. Sometimes it's just a combination of really bad genes.
43
@B. ~
So you’re then assuming (and telling the rest of the world) that you don’t have “just a combination of really bad genes”—that is, until someone (like you here) determines that you, too, have “a combination of really bad genes.”
And then you can only hope and pray that the person who has made that determination (like you have here) is not in a position of power.
Or, you might want to educate yourself a bit more deeply on the absolute horrors your “a combination of really bad genes” stance has brought to human history.
5
And a system set to protect the predator, the powerful and not the victim.
Easier to blame genes, not that easy to truely see the world we live in and the world we’re creating every day.
We have to ask ourselves, what are we doing to stop people like Weinstein? Do we believe women when they complain? Do we make sexual comments or jokes? Do we stop people that make sexual comments or jokes? Do we laugh of those jokes? What do we do? What we don’t do?
20
Or opportunity, power, and the patriarchy.
4
Let’s only hope we get to delve into Jeffrey Epstein’s state of mind so deeply. It’s such a reassuring perspective of human nature.
7
It’s one thing that Bob Weinstein now condemns his brother, but what did he do for several decades while his brother was abusing women? Nothing. Zero. Zilch. He knew and he did nothing.
100
@Jo
Is that why he excoriated him so harshly via email--out of personal guilt? Or were those messages a planted paper trail in case complicity came up later?
21
@Jo How do you know that?
4
@Jo How do you know what he knew? Can we just focus the perp and stop blaming everyone else?
10
I wish the brains of these cruel, unfeeling, shameless, narcissistic men (Weinstein, Epstein, Cosby, Nassar, Trump, to name but a few) could be studied upon their death. It’s easy to say they are “monsters” in their “soul” but that’s not scientific. I’d love to know what’s physically wrong, if they were born this way, and if there is a pattern among these types of individuals, who happen to be almost always men.
82
@V Scientifically speaking, we are not even nearly there yet. Brain, memory and subconscious remain far less known about than the rest of the body.
6
@V: Forensic Psychologist here. There is a voluminous record of research into psychopathy, including 20 years of MRIs and PET scans, available for review by anybody. What you're really asking about is whether psychopaths and psychopathy is an empirical science. This personality disorder is one of the best studied and understood. That doesn't mean it can be predicted at birth, but we can identify individuals likely to become psychopaths in early adolescence. Check it out, it's fascinating research. We don't know why it is, but we have an established science describing what it is.
44
Here we are talking about male> female ‘assault’. In the corporate such narcissism is common without a direct sexual context: people like J Welch.
Mr. Bezos does not "own Amazon." It is a publicly traded company with millions of owners. Bezos founded the company and is its CEO and President.
31
@Skip B
" ... and Mr. Bezos, who founded Amazon ..."
Sir- The article doesn't even say he owns it. It says he founded it which he did.
19
@mark
But it does:
"He also contacted Mr. Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City and Democratic presidential candidate, and Mr. Bezos, who owns Amazon."
I searched the page for the word 'founded' and only found it here in the comments section. Where are you looking? Unless they changed it and the changes haven't yet replicated across all their web servers so we are both technically correct in what we are seeing (until it refreshes). Not that this point matters apart from making sure things are 100% accurate...this whole ordeal and what those women suffered is nauseating. We've all heard of these 'casting couches' in the business. Heartening that these predatory males are finally being called out.
14
12 year life expectancy at his age? Okay, the rest of his life in prison then.
137
@James I find the argument that a sentence would be de facto life curious, since it can be recast as, I managed to avoid justice for so long that I cannot likely serve the usual term.
If I were the judge, it would work against the goal of the defense lawyers since it indicates a desire to avoid paying his 'debt to society.'
26
@James
Hmm. I was thinking 15 years, three for "good measure." You know, to make sure it's sufficient.
14
@James Actually it's not 12 years. Life expectancy at birth is 79. Harvey Weinstein is 67. He has outlived all that died before 67 and his life expectancy is now above 79. I don't know the statistics, but a quick google search gives him an average life expectancy of 17-18 years.
5
Bob Weinstein’s righteous indignation is a little suspicious. They were very close. He had to have had an inkling of what Harvey was up to.
82
@Max Thursday I'm not sure they were close anymore. They ran different shops under the same roof. He may have had an inkling about harassment, etc., but not about rape.
4
@Max Thursday
My understanding is that Harvey was very abusive to Bob all these years. My ex-husbands charismatic brother was quite abusive to him so I believe this to be the case. Dysfunctional family
3
One of our culture leaders, until he wasn't.
.
This story just keeps getting sicker, if that's even possible.
50
Not a big surprise that Weinstein reached out to Bezos and Bloomberg.
The very rich always reach out to other even more powerful rich, especially when they might have an “understanding” of his criminal problems.
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Look, anyone with chutzpah and delusions could reach out to anyone. The important thing is, did either man help Weinstein?
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@Johan...or they all have dirt on each other.
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He needs to be sentenced for the longest term possible.
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The judge should add a few years to the sentence just for all the transparent stunts he's pulled to try to sway public opinion.
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If the sex acts with all those women over the years was “consensual” why the need for “heavy therapy and counseling” and talk of “resurrection?” Do tell.
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Susan, at least he did not request 'extreme' therapy
@Bartolo perhaps therapy with 'extreme prejudice' would have helped.
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@Susan He regrets it all.In the American tradition of second and third acts he will come back born again; maybe open up a church in the south, etc etc
A monster, and a coward to boot. The walker was a clever touch, but I don't think the jury bought it, and certainly not the judge.
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@M. Imberti Having temporarily needed a walker after my own spinal surgery, I can tell you that a patient who really needs one does not, should not, and likely cannot lean forward from a distance, as Weinstein does, while using one. It's a sham.
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@M. Imberti It's amazing how the walker or other assistive aids suddenly become de rigeur for predators such as Harvey once they are put on trial. Think of bill Cosby
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@M. Imberti but common, he is getting shots in the eyes...
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He needs to face the punishment for the terrible things he has done. He ruined a lot of lives, crushed a lot of dreams, destroyed a lot of self-esteem. His victims lives are no less valuable than his own.
I have no doubt he is a sociopath, but he should still die behind bars. I'm hoping the judge agrees.
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As much of the information in this article confirms, of one thing we can all be certain, Harvey Weinstein is a very sick man. He certainly does not deserve the freedom to further assault women, which he very likely would, but it might be a more humane punishment to have him spend the rest of his life in a hospital rather than a prison.
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@Richard Phelps : And why should he be given 'humane' punishment when others do not? What makes him so deserving? Nothing. Let him rot in prison for the rest of his life.
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@Richard Phelps
No. Just No.
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@sophia: But he is rich so the rich should get better and more lenient treatment.
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To the reporter: I believe "inhumanness" is not a misspelling of "inhumaneness," for the same reason that "inhuman" is not a misspelling of "inhumane." Generally, I think the connotations of inhumanness are worse. To call someone inhuman is much harsher than calling them inhumane, don't you think? And I think Bob Weinstein meant it to be much harsher.
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A repulsive, self-pitying, predatory monster, who deserves his punishment. If he can't handle the jail time, tough. The emotional distress and trauma inflicted on his laundry list of victims will likely stay with them forever.
Amazing insight from his brother. It should weigh heavily when the length of the sentence is considered.
Yes, Mr Weinstein, you may well die in jail. You should have thought of that before you wrecked countless lives.
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What a shame. Did the crime but does not like doing the time. Et tu Trump.
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So Weinstein looked at Bloomberg and Bezos as potentially sympathetic 'peers'. I'm sure both men reacted to this flattery with suitable revulsion.
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@KJ Birds of a feather, at least in the case of Bloomberg.
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Weinstein's claims of innocence………
You want an eye opener?……….
Read the latest Vanity Fair article that has many of Weinstein's victims recounting the trauma they lived with long after their encounter with this man………
It's heart wrenching to say the least……..
AND
In the end he got off extremely easy……..
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yes, and add to that the PBS Frontline episode @ HW- excellent investigative piece.
Cyrus Vance AG who dismissed the charges of the Italian model who wore a wire and presented proof of HW sex assault was obviously ‘afraid’ of HW.
I’d love to see an investigation of CV...
ofcorse now he acts so noble.
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Weinstein is a monster and is barely getting what he deserves. But what about all the other people who cooperated with him, facilitated the abuse and rapes, and covered up? I've read of some of his assistants, for example, making hotel reservations, letting unsuspecting women into the room, calling them a cab afterwards, etc. They knew what was going on! Worse, they helped make it happen! They sound like accomplices to me.
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@Roberta,
In fact, it’s quite heartening that your comment is currently at the top of Reader Picks; if it remains there, my faith in reason will be much strengthened at a time when reason is ever more pushed aside for the purposes and objectives of “our” corporate-owned “free press.”
Yes, as you say, these many people knew what was going on, as did countless Hollywood beat reporters, who knew they would lose access to the powerful corporations and people running the Hollywood movie industry if they spoke publicly about Harvey Weinstein’s abuse of power and women.
Power uses its power to shield itself from scrutiny; that much is clear to all.
The real reckoning to come is found in your comment here: The tens, hundreds (thousands?) of people who silently watched his abuse play out over decades because they had staked their own livelihoods on this very same power (while only hoping that this power wouldn’t also abuse them).
Indeed, here much of the “Hollywood movie industry” has been found out for what it is: mass obedience and conformity to immense power.
And this mass obedience and conformity to power comes straight out of the powerful institutions that these silent “career-in-movies” people graduated from.
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See the film "The Assistant" and you'll have a better insight into these people you vilify as enablers.
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Yes indeed! Weinstein’s accomplices sound exactly like the facilitators surrounding our president.
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Did Bob Weinstein really not know about any of this until it came out in the press?
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@McQueen same as Weinstein's wife who claims she had no clue...
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@McQueen According to his assistant, Kathy DeClesis, Bob knew since the early 1990s.
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@McQueen Bob was feeling the pain directly. The Board settled many claims and that had to dilute earnings. Bob had likely asked his brother to "cut it out" because it was costing them real money!
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Interesting that the harshest condemnation about him came from his own brother. Pretty much clears any possibility of his actions having been exaggerated or his being demonized by the media.
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@Rodrigo
Agreeing, whole heartedly with you on this.
10
The billionaire victims club. Pathetic.
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https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/10/politics/email-prankster-harvey-weinstein-lisa-bloom/index.html
Which of these stories is wrong? Did the e-mail from Dunn actually come from Dunn?
Re: “... inhumanness, for the acts u have perpetrated,’ Bob Weinstein wrote, misspelling you and inhumaneness.”
No, “inhumanness” is not a misspelling. It appears as a synonym for “inhumanity” in Merriam-Webster.
They are different in degree. For example, indifference to the plight of refugees is inhumane. Taking away and caging their children is inhuman.
Also,”U” is obviously an intentional abbreviation, not a misspelling.
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Let's hope this man ends up serving his time at Rikers.
What a horrible place that appears to be.
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@mark Actually no one deserves to serve their time at Rikers. We're better than that.
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@mark Rikers is a city jail and only houses inmates who are either awaiting trial, or serving a sentence of less than a year. With that in mind, he won't be staying at Rikers.
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@Mary
Tell that to the women he abused/assaulted. Certain crimes deserve all that Rikers has to offer.
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There’s a book yet to be written regarding the comments from his brother. Those who know us best and longest are capable of both great insight and great harm, psychological and bodily.
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So, if I'm understanding this report correctly, Harvey Weinstein had no compunctions whatsoever from escalating from sexual assault to murder, all in an attempt to avoid being held accountable for his own actions. And it's also very telling that he felt immune enough from consequences of his own actions that he had no problem putting those threats in writing.
I'm glad that this menace to society is in prison. It's where he belongs. I also get the distinct impression that there are plenty more like him running around who need the same treatment.
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@Dave Hum... no. Of course he is horrible, but venting about someone "should be killed" in an email is not the same as actually having no compunctions about murder. That would require been willing to actual kill the person should the opportunity arise. We don't know that he would do that (although he might).
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@Rodrigo
I have no doubt - being what he had gotten away with for ... Oh never mind... if you don't get it you don't get it.
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@Rodrigo Don't worry Rod, he hasn't been charged with murder. The point is only a fool would downplay this menace to society.
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The bigger they are the harder they fall. Notwithstanding, he doubtlessly got great care at Bellevue Hospital as the Cardiology team are the best in the world (many great women on the team). Unfortunately, he is transporting oxygen better and his Rikers Island experience will be vivid and memorable.
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Vivid...well I guess that’s one way to describe the new “friendships” he is about to experience!
6