Harvey Weinstein Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison
Aug 17, 2020
Los Angeles, CA (Law Firm Newswire) August 17, 2020 – Harvey Weinstein, Hollywood mogul and convicted rapist, was sentenced to 23 years in New York state prison for the sexual abuse of multiple women after a trial that attracted intense media coverage and public intertest.
Accusations of sexual assault and harassment have long been associated with Weinstein, but he successfully dodged them for decades. More than 80 women in countries all over the world have come forward to accuse Weinstein of sexual crimes, assault and rape. Their horrific stories of the abuse committed by the Miramax cofounder reignited the #MeToo movement and focused international attention on the everyday instances of sexual abuse and harassment experienced by women all over.
“The message sent by Harvey Weinstein’s significant jail sentence could not be any clearer,” said Betsy Havens, executive Director at Los Angeles area MeToo law firm Strong Advocates. “To other abusers, it says that no one is above the law. To the many survivors of sexual assault and harassment all over the world it says that, finally, their voices can be heard.”
Deep relief was shared by survivors of Weinstein upon hearing of his sentence. After years of Weinstein using his power and wealth to silence and terrorize his accusers, all while continuing to abuse new women, many feared he would never see justice. The maximum sentence for the charges he faced was 29 years. He was given a 20-year sentence for assaulting a former production assistant named Mimi Haley in 2006 and a three-year sentence for the 2013 rape of actress Jessica Mann, which he will serve consecutively.
Weinstein will eventually be extradited to California, where he has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault against two women who allege Weinstein attacked them in 2013 in Los Angeles. He denies any wrongdoing and plans to appeal.
Strong Advocates is an employment law firm based in Los Angeles that is proud to represent women who have been victims of sexual assault. To contact Betsy Havens, visit Strong Advocates online at https://www.strongadvocates.com/.
