Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Sexually Assaulting Production Assistant Miriam Haley

NEW YORK, — A Manhattan jury has found disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. The verdict, delivered Wednesday after five days of intense deliberation, marks a significant development in Weinstein’s retrial following the overturning of his 2020 conviction.

Weinstein, 73, was found guilty on one of three charges. He was acquitted of sexually assaulting former aspiring actress Kaja Sokola in 2002, and the jury has yet to reach a verdict in the case involving actress Jessica Mann, who accused him of assaulting her in 2013.

The retrial began in April after a New York state appeals court nullified his previous conviction. Weinstein pleaded not guilty and continues to deny all allegations, maintaining that all sexual encounters were consensual.

During the proceedings, prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who manipulated aspiring actresses with promises of fame in exchange for sexual favors. They argued he used his Hollywood power to lure women into private encounters where he then assaulted them.

Weinstein’s defense team countered the accusations, claiming the relationships were “mutually beneficial” and consensual. They asserted that the women gained professional opportunities in return, including auditions and roles in the entertainment industry.

Before the verdict was announced, Justice Curtis Farber acknowledged internal strife among jurors. One juror, referred to as Juror One, reportedly refused to change his stance and faced hostility from fellow jurors.
“There’s yelling and screaming,” the judge said in open court, noting one juror even made a threatening comment: “I’ll meet you outside one day.”

Weinstein was once a dominant figure in Hollywood, co-founding Miramax and producing acclaimed films like Shakespeare in Love and Pulp Fiction. His fall from power began in 2017 when over 100 women — including major actresses — accused him of sexual misconduct, triggering the global #MeToo movement.

His production company declared bankruptcy in 2018, just months after the initial flood of allegations became public.