Harvey Weinstein seemed stunned, and refused to move. He was inside the Manhattan courtroom where he had just been found guilty of two felony sex crimes. This made him the first high-profile man ousted from a position of power during the #MeToo movement and then criminally prosecuted.
The Times’s Jan Ransom was inside the courtroom. She said the once-influential movie producer, who recently had back surgery, was seated when the verdict was read. Eventually, he placed his hands in front of his body and was handcuffed. Then court officers escorted Mr. Weinstein as he limped out of the courtroom.
A jury convicted Mr. Weinstein, 67, on Monday of criminal sexual assault in the first degree and rape in the third degree. He was acquitted on three other charges, including predatory sexual assault. He was sent to jail to await sentencing on March 11.
He could be sentenced to between five and 29 years in prison.
Dozens of women had come forward with accusations against Mr. Weinstein. Six women testified at the trial that he had sexually assaulted them, though Mr. Weinstein had faced charges in connection with only two of them. The others were allowed to testify to establish a pattern of behavior.
The back story
Accusations of sexual misconduct and assault have swirled around Mr. Weinstein for years. In 2015, he avoided prosecution in connection to a groping episode, but was indicted in 2018 in New York after dozens of women came forward to accuse him in the media.
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