Harvey Weinstein Convicted on Key Charge in Retrial, Acquitted on Another, as Jury Deadlocks on Third
Harvey The split outcome represents both a partial victory for prosecutors and a moment of relief for the defense, as the long-running legal battle tied to the #MeToo movement enters another phase.
Harvey The verdict followed a turbulent day in court that included jury infighting, a dramatic statement from Weinstein himself, and a call for the judge to end the trial.
Harvey This retrial came after Weinstein’s 2020 conviction—seen as a milestone for the #MeToo era—was overturned by New York’s highest court last year due to improper inclusion of testimony from women whose allegations had not resulted in charges.
Harvey However, he was acquitted of a separate charge involving former model Kaja Sokola, who accused him of forcibly performing oral sex on her in the same year. The jury could not agree on whether Weinstein raped hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann in 2013, leaving that charge unresolved as deliberations are set to continue Thursday.
All three women, who have publicly identified themselves, testified about their encounters with Weinstein, alleging that he used his power in the entertainment industry to coerce them into unwanted sexual activity. Weinstein, now 73, has denied all allegations of rape or sexual assault.
Jury Tensions Erupt
The jury room had been growing tense even before Wednesday’s verdict. Earlier in the week, the foreperson voiced concern about being pressured to change his stance and reported what he described as bullying behavior among the jurors. According to Judge Curtis Farber, the foreperson said he felt he couldn’t return to deliberations after another juror reportedly threatened him with words like, “I’ll meet you outside one day,” accompanied by yelling and heated exchanges.
Weinstein’s defense team seized on this, requesting a mistrial and arguing that the jury had become compromised. Lead defense attorney Arthur Aidala cited the foreperson’s statements as evidence of a hostile environment that could affect the trial’s fairness. Prosecutors countered that while the deliberations were tense, the foreperson seemed more obstinate than fearful. Judge Farber denied the mistrial request.
Juror disputes had surfaced earlier as well. One juror asked to be excused last week, claiming another member of the panel was being treated unfairly.
Weinstein and the Broader #MeToo Movement
Weinstein, once a towering figure in the film industry and a major political donor, has now become one of the most infamous figures in the global reckoning over sexual misconduct. His downfall began in earnest in 2017 when explosive investigative reports by The New York Times and The New Yorker exposed decades of allegations. Those reports turned #MeToo from a social media hashtag into a transformative social movement.
Prior to the scandal, Weinstein’s companies were behind several Oscar-winning films, including “Shakespeare in Love,” “The English Patient,” and “The Artist.” His influence reached deep into both Hollywood and Democratic political circles.
Although Weinstein was first accused publicly in 2015—when an Italian model said he groped her in his office—no charges were filed at the time. That decision came under intense scrutiny after subsequent reports exposed a long history of misconduct, which eventually led to criminal charges in both New York and California.
In New York, the retrial focused more narrowly on specific accusers and excluded supporting testimony from other women not named in the formal charges.
A Retrial with New Charges and Familiar Patterns
Though the retrial didn’t include additional witnesses like the original trial, it did incorporate new charges based on Sokola’s allegations. The trial revisited a pattern of behavior long described by Weinstein’s accusers: using his position of power to lure women with promises of career advancement, only to isolate and sexually abuse them.
The prosecution’s case relied heavily on the testimony of Haley, Mann, and Sokola, all of whom spoke in detail about their traumatic encounters with Weinstein. At times, emotions flared in the courtroom. Sokola broke down when cross-examined about a private journal entry. Haley openly cursed at Weinstein while testifying. Mann pointed angrily at him as she exited the witness stand.
A recurring challenge in the case was the complex relationships between Weinstein and his accusers. All three women continued to have contact with him after the alleged assaults — a point the defense emphasized. They attended events with him, exchanged messages, and in some cases requested favors or assistance with their careers. The prosecution explained these interactions as typical of trauma victims, especially those dealing with a powerful, unpredictable man who held sway over their futures.
The Defense Strategy and Weinstein’s Silence
His legal team portrayed his accusers as ambitious actresses and models who voluntarily engaged with him to gain access to opportunities in Hollywood, only to later frame their past encounters as assaults for financial or reputational benefit in the #MeToo era.
His attorneys dismissed the prosecution’s portrayal of Weinstein as predatory, arguing instead that he was targeted by opportunists who changed their stories for attention or settlements.
Looking Ahead
Though the retrial has resulted in at least one major conviction, legal battles for Weinstein are far from over. Deliberations on the remaining rape charge continue, and any sentence for Wednesday’s conviction will depend on the final outcome.
Prosecutors appear intent on continuing their pursuit. Weinstein’s defense team, meanwhile, is expected to appeal again, arguing that the retrial was just as flawed as the original proceeding.
It continues to serve as a barometer of how the justice system handles sexual assault allegations against powerful men — and how society interprets the complicated dynamics of influence, fear, and survival that often accompany such cases.