Weinstein Sentenced to 15 Years in New York Sexual Assault Case

Harvey Weinstein, the film producer whose name became synonymous with the #MeToo movement, was sentenced to 15 years in prison Wednesday morning in a Manhattan courtroom. The 74-year-old was convicted of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley, a production assistant on "Project Runway," at his apartment in 2006. The sentence came after a retrial—his original 23-year conviction was overturned by New York's Court of Appeals in April 2024, and a new jury convicted him again in 2025 on the charge involving Haley. He will serve the 15 years plus five additional years of post-release supervision and must register as a sex offender.

Weinstein entered the courtroom in a wheelchair, dressed in a suit. Before the judge spoke, prosecutors and the defense presented their cases. The prosecution argued that Weinstein "has never shown an ounce of remorse and refuses to accept responsibility for this crime." They pointed to a 2025 podcast interview as evidence of his continued deflection, calling it "a tour de force of victimhood, deflection and conspiracy." They had asked for 20 years in prison, characterizing him as a "significant threat to society" whose actions required deterrence to prevent other powerful figures from abusing their authority. They also detailed how Weinstein had engaged in online harassment and victim-blaming directed at Haley.

Haley delivered her victim impact statement with visible emotion. She described the assault as a dark, painful secret that ate away at her spirit for years. She had been diagnosed with PTSD. When other women began speaking out publicly, she said, she felt there was finally an opening to share her own story. But testifying proved devastating. She said she often felt like she was the one on trial, not Weinstein. She had to describe the assault repeatedly to a grand jury, the district attorney's office, and endure what she called belittling and humiliating cross-examination. She was harassed online, ridiculed by Weinstein's legal team, and tracked by private investigators. She considered withdrawing from the case multiple times but felt compelled to continue. "I think he still feels entitled, and that's part of the problem," she said of Weinstein. She expressed worry that she would spend years looking over her shoulder, uncertain what he might be plotting.

Weinstein's defense attorneys argued for leniency. Marc Agnifilo thanked Haley for appearing and urged that the investigation into Weinstein be closed, noting that he had been convicted in two cases in California—not dozens or scores of victims. Jacob Kaplan emphasized Weinstein's declining health: he is 74, takes more than 20 medications daily, and has been hospitalized six times since 2025. Kaplan asked for a nine-year sentence, arguing that a longer term would likely result in Weinstein dying in prison. He noted that 269 inmates in New York are serving less than nine years for first-degree rape convictions.

Weinstein himself addressed the court. He said he was not a perfect person and had made mistakes. Reflecting on events since 2017 had helped him recognize how his conduct had harmed others, and he said he "sincerely apologize[s] to others" he may have hurt. But then he reiterated his innocence. He described his treatment in custody as inhumane—being denied companionship, sunlight, and basic comforts. He spoke of his work in philanthropy and his desire to add prisoners' rights to those efforts. He listed notable films he had produced: "Pulp Fiction," "Chicago," "The Artist," and "The King's Speech." He read a letter from his daughter, who wrote that she had been bullied at school because of her father and was only 8 when he went to jail. "The sound of my children's laughter is what gets me through these days," he said, asking the court for mercy.

The judge, after a brief recess, delivered the sentence. He acknowledged that Weinstein had built a legacy in film, but said that achievement would "pale in comparison for what you did, for what you became—a sexual predator, the literal face of the #MeToo movement." The judge noted that Weinstein had lured Haley with the promise of a job in the industry and that for years he had refused to accept responsibility, even recently giving interviews claiming that money-hungry women had come after him. Although Weinstein no longer posed a physical threat, the judge said, he remained a sexual predator. The judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison with five years of post-release supervision.

Weinstein has already served more than six years in custody. He faces an additional potential 25-year sentence and was previously convicted in California in 2022 on three counts of sexual assault, including rape, for which he received 16 years. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg thanked Haley and other survivors who appeared to support her, saying he was moved by their courage and steadfastness through what had been a challenging process.