ARROGANCE OF A MONSTER
Harvey Weinstein thought he’d be cleared of sex crimes, telling friends: ‘I pray the tides are turning.’ But today he’s a convicted rapist – and faces up to 29 years in jail
HARVEY Weinstein was taken to prison in handcuffs last night, facing up to 29 years behind bars.
The movie mogul, 67, was convicted of sex attacks on two women, including the rape of an aspiring actress.
A New york jury cleared him of the most serious charges of predatory sexual assault, for which he could have served life.
As Weinstein became prisoner number 06581138Z at notorious Rikers Island:
■ It can be revealed he expected to be cleared and was planning for the future;
■ His conviction was heralded as a watershed moment for the MeToo movement;
■ Downing Street faced calls to strip Weinstein of an honorary CBe awarded in 2004;
■ Weinstein’s days in court are not over because he faces another sex trial.
Sources said Weinstein spent his last days as a free man with his children and making plans for a charitable trust he hoped would restore his tarnished image.
Only last week he told a friend in a text message: ‘Praying the tides are turning.’ And while waiting for the verdict he read over a new film script.
His lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said that after the verdict Weinstein who was once one of the most powerful players in Hollywood, kept repeating: ‘I’m innocent, I’m innocent.’
He also said: ‘I didn’t rape anyone’ and wondered out loud: ‘How could this happen in America?’, according to the New york Daily News.
But last night he was labelled a ‘vicious, serial sexual predator who used his power to threaten, rape, assault and trick, humiliate and silence his victims’.
Manhattan district attorney Cyrus vance Jr added: ‘ This is the new landscape for survivors of sexual assault in America, I believe, and it is a new day. It is a new day because Harvey Weinstein has finally been held accountable for crimes he committed.
‘These survivors weren’t just brave, they were heroic. Words can’t describe the sacrifices they made.’
The Silence Breakers, a group of women who came together to accuse Weinstein and others, said: ‘ He will now forever be known as a convicted serial predator.’
Italian actress Asia Argento, an early accuser of the former Miramax boss, wrote on Instagram: ‘Harvey Weinstein is now a convicted rapist. Two survivors cry and celebrate. Thank you God.’
Gloria Allred, a lawyer for the victims, said: ‘It’s no longer business as usual in the United States. This is the age of empowerment of women. And you cannot intimidate them any more. Women will not be silenced.’
The guilty verdict on two of the five charges Weinstein faced were seen as a vindication for the MeToo and Time’s Up movements, which saw women come forward in their droves to tell of their abuse at the hands of powerful men.
More than 100 women have made accusations against Weinstein and he faces up to 25 years behind bars after being convicted of sexually assaulting a production assistant, forcing himself upon Mimi Haleyi in 2006. He could face up to another four years for the rape of aspiring actress Jessica Mann, with whom he had been in a ‘degrading’ on-off relationship.
The jury of seven men and five women took almost 27 hours to convict the producer of the Oscarwinning film Shakespeare in Love. They sat through three weeks of evidence that shone a light into Hollywood’s darkest corners.
The foreman’s hand trembled as he read out the verdict. A court clerk made each member of the jury say out loud that they agreed with the verdict as Weinstein stared impassively ahead. Within minutes his legal team sent a lawyer to the appeal court.
Donna Rotunno, seen as Weinstein’s ‘Rottweiler’, said on the steps of the court: ‘We’ll absolutely
‘Humiliate and silence his victims’
be appealing. The fight is not over.’ She had asked that her client, who hobbled into court every day using a walking frame, be allowed bail until the sentencing hearing next month.
Judge James Burke denied her request, saying he would request Weinstein be put in the prison infirmary. A bid to have Weinstein released on bail, ahead of the appeal, was launched last night. Mr Vance said he was ‘not dissatisfied’ with the verdict even though Weinstein was found not guilty on the two most serious charges of predatory sexual assault.
The shamed mogul also faces court in LA on rape and sexual assault charges.