“I hope he never sees the outside of a prison cell during his lifetime”: Harvey Weinstein Officially Convicted of Rape in Mixed Judgement, Puts Disgraced Producer Behind Bars Forever
Followed by years of rumors about Harvey Weinstein’s inappropriate behavior, allegations of sexual assault and misconduct came out against him in 2017. Allegations against the former producer led the #MeToo movement, and multiple women opened up about sexual violence at workplaces, along with Weinstein’s victims to come forward and share their stories with the world. Followed by the New York convictions, the producer was accused by four women in Los Angeles. And he is once again convicted of rape and two other sexual assault counts by the Los Angeles jury on Monday.
Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Rape and Sexual Assault
Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of rape and sexual assault by a Los Angeles jury on Monday. The Pulp Fiction producer could face up to 24 years of imprisonment in addition to the sentence he is already serving for his New York case.
The Los Angeles victim has said that she hopes that Weinstein never sees the outside of the prison cell during his lifetime. The woman who identifies as Jane Doe #1 shared, “Harvey Weinstein forever destroyed a part of me that night in 2013, and I will never get that back.”
In the weeks-long trial, the prosecutors described how Weinstein used his power and position to rape and abuse women with impunity women trying to make their way into the film industry. They also claimed that his victims were afraid to lose their careers if they spoke out against the former producer.
The jury convicted the Shakespeare in Love producer of three of the seven counts of assaults, including forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, and sexual penetration by a foreign object. All of these charges are related to Jane Doe #1, which she claims happened in a Beverly Hills hotel room in February 2013.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench Declares Mistrial on Some Counts
The jury could not reach the verdict for charges by two other women. One of these women was identified as Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Gavin Newsom.
Siebel Newsom’s attorney, Elizabeth Fegan expressed her disappointment saying that the jury was not able to “reach a unanimous verdict on Jane Doe 4.” However, she said that she would continue to fight for women. The judge, Lisa Lench has declared a mistrial for some counts, including Siebel Newsom’s.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón also shared his disappointment regarding the jury’s split on some of the charges. He said that he hopes “its partial verdicts bring at least some measure of justice to the victims.”
Siebel Newsom was among the four victims who offered the testimony that was used to file the case against Harvey Weinstein for two counts of rape and five counts of sexual assault.
After all this, Weinstein still claims that all his sexual encounters were consensual and pleads not guilty. His attorneys claimed that all the women willingly got involved with the former producer under the “casting couch” culture of Hollywood.
Harvey Weinstein is still appealing his conviction and prison sentence in the New York case.
Source: Reuters
