Harvey Weinstein

Harvey Weinstein
Born:	March 19, 1952 Flushing, Queens, New York
Charges:	Criminal sexual act (New York), Rape (California), Sexual assault (California), Forcible oral copulation (California)
Sentence:	16 years (California); New York case ongoing after retrial
Facility:	Rikers Island (New York); previously California state prison
Status:	Incarcerated, awaiting third New York trial

Harvey Weinstein (born March 19, 1952) is an American former film producer and convicted sex offender whose decades of sexual abuse of women in the entertainment industry were exposed in 2017, helping to spark the global #MeToo movement. Once one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood, Weinstein co-founded the independent film studios Miramax and The Weinstein Company and produced films that won more than 80 Academy Awards. His downfall came after The New York Times and The New Yorker published investigations revealing decades of sexual harassment and assault allegations against him. In 2020, Weinstein was convicted in New York on charges of criminal sexual act and rape, and in 2022, he was convicted in Los Angeles on multiple sexual assault charges and sentenced to 16 years in California state prison. His New York conviction was overturned in 2024 on appeal, but a June 2025 retrial resulted in a new conviction on criminal sexual act charges, with a third trial pending on rape charges that ended in a mistrial.

Summary

Harvey Weinstein's case became the defining scandal of the #MeToo era. For decades, the Oscar-winning producer allegedly used his enormous power in Hollywood to prey on aspiring actresses and female employees, employing a combination of career promises, intimidation, and aggressive legal tactics to silence his accusers. More than 80 women eventually came forward with allegations ranging from unwanted sexual advances to rape.

The October 2017 investigations by The New York Times and The New Yorker exposed a pattern of abuse dating back decades, including settlements paid to accusers and the use of non-disclosure agreements to buy their silence. The revelations led to Weinstein's firing from The Weinstein Company, his expulsion from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and criminal investigations in multiple jurisdictions. More broadly, his case encouraged countless other women to share their own stories of sexual harassment and assault, fueling the worldwide #MeToo movement.

Weinstein's legal saga has been prolonged and complex. After his initial 2020 New York conviction was overturned on appeal in April 2024, prosecutors retried him in early 2025. The June 2025 retrial resulted in a split verdict: conviction on one count of criminal sexual act but acquittal on another charge and a mistrial on a rape charge. Manhattan prosecutors have stated their intent to retry him on the unresolved rape charge.

Background

Early Life and Education

Harvey Weinstein was born on March 19, 1952, in Flushing, Queens, New York City, the first of two boys born to Max and Miriam Weinstein. He grew up with his younger brother Bob in the Electchester housing co-op in New York City. Weinstein attended John Bowne High School and then enrolled at the State University of New York at Buffalo, though he did not graduate, choosing instead to focus on business ventures.

Concert Promotion

While at the University at Buffalo, Weinstein joined the arts council and began promoting rock concerts. With his brother Bob and fellow student Corky Burger, he formed Harvey & Corky Productions, which independently produced rock concerts in Buffalo throughout most of the 1970s. The company brought major acts to town including Frank Sinatra, The Who, Jackson Browne, and the Rolling Stones. Using profits from their concert promotion business, the Weinstein brothers eventually moved into film.

Miramax Films

In 1979, Harvey and Bob Weinstein founded Miramax Films, naming it after their parents Miriam and Max. The company's goal was to distribute independent and foreign films overlooked by major Hollywood studios. Miramax's first hit came in 1982 with "The Secret Policeman's Other Ball." Throughout the 1980s, the brothers built the company with critically acclaimed arthouse films, gaining wider attention with Errol Morris's documentary "The Thin Blue Line" in 1988 and Steven Soderbergh's "sex, lies, and videotape" in 1989.

In 1993, following the success of "The Crying Game," Disney acquired Miramax for $80 million, with the Weinstein brothers remaining as co-chairmen. Under Disney's ownership, Miramax produced a string of acclaimed and commercially successful films, including Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" (1994), "The English Patient" (1996), "Good Will Hunting" (1997), and "Shakespeare in Love" (1998). Weinstein became known for his aggressive Oscar campaigns and his reputation as a kingmaker in Hollywood.

The Weinstein Company

On September 30, 2005, the Weinstein brothers left Miramax to form The Weinstein Company (TWC). The new company continued producing successful films, though Weinstein's reputation for bullying behavior and volatile temper was increasingly discussed in Hollywood circles. The company would eventually file for bankruptcy following the exposure of Weinstein's sexual abuse.

Sexual Abuse Allegations and #MeToo

The 2017 Investigations

On October 5, 2017, The New York Times published an investigation by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey revealing decades of sexual harassment allegations against Weinstein, including settlements paid to at least eight women. Days later, The New Yorker published Ronan Farrow's investigation, which included accusations of rape from three women. The reports detailed how Weinstein had used his power over actresses' careers to pressure them into sexual encounters and then deployed aggressive legal tactics, including the use of private investigators, to suppress their accounts.

Fallout

The revelations led to swift consequences. Weinstein was fired from The Weinstein Company on October 8, 2017. He was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and numerous other professional organizations. His wife, fashion designer Georgina Chapman, announced she was leaving him. Criminal investigations were opened in New York, Los Angeles, and London.

The #MeToo Movement

Weinstein's exposure encouraged countless other women to share their experiences with sexual harassment and assault, using the hashtag #MeToo, which had been coined by activist Tarana Burke in 2006. The movement spread globally and led to the downfall of powerful men in entertainment, media, politics, and other industries. Time magazine named "The Silence Breakers" as its 2017 Person of the Year.

Criminal Cases

First New York Trial (2020)

In May 2018, Weinstein was arrested in New York and charged with rape and other sex crimes. His trial began in January 2020. On February 24, 2020, a jury convicted Weinstein of criminal sexual act in the first degree for forcing oral sex on Miriam Haley, a production assistant, in 2006, and rape in the third degree for an attack on aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013. He was acquitted of the most serious charges, including predatory sexual assault. In March 2020, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

New York Conviction Overturned (2024)

On April 25, 2024, New York's highest court overturned Weinstein's 2020 conviction by a 4-3 vote, ruling that the trial judge had made a critical error by allowing testimony from women whose allegations were not part of the charges, unfairly prejudicing the jury. The court ordered a new trial.

California Conviction (2022)

Meanwhile, Weinstein faced trial in Los Angeles on charges involving five women. In December 2022, a jury convicted him of rape, forcible oral copulation, and sexual penetration by a foreign object. He was sentenced to 16 years in California state prison, to be served after any New York sentence. Weinstein is appealing this conviction.

New York Retrial (2025)

Weinstein's New York retrial began in 2025. On June 11, 2025, the jury reached a split verdict. Weinstein was convicted of criminal sexual act in the first degree for the assault on Miriam Haley but acquitted of a criminal sexual act charge related to Kaja Sokola. The jury could not reach a verdict on the rape charge related to Jessica Mann, resulting in a mistrial on that count.

The trial was marked by controversy, including a note from the jury foreperson stating he "cannot go back inside with those people" and complaints of jurors "attacking" one another. One juror later stated in an affidavit that she regretted the verdict and believed intimidation from other jurors affected the outcome. Weinstein's attorneys moved to vacate the conviction based on allegations of threats against jurors, but prosecutors opposed the motion.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced his office would retry Weinstein on the rape charge, potentially leading to a third New York trial.

Current Status

Weinstein remains incarcerated at Rikers Island in New York City, where he has been held during his retrial. He has been frequently hospitalized due to various health issues. He also faces the 16-year California sentence, which he is appealing. A third New York trial on the unresolved rape charge may take place later in 2025.

Terminology

• Criminal Sexual Act: Under New York law, a crime involving forcible sexual contact.

• #MeToo Movement: A social movement against sexual abuse and harassment that spread virally in 2017 after the Weinstein allegations.

• Mistrial: A trial that has been terminated without a verdict, typically because the jury cannot reach agreement.

• Predatory Sexual Assault: Under New York law, a serious felony involving a pattern of sexual offenses.

See Also

• Overview of the Federal Prison System
• Pre-Sentencing Process