Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 15 years in prison Wednesday after a Manhattan jury convicted the former Hollywood executive of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley.
Haley, a former production assistant, addressed the court during the sentencing hearing and described what she said has been the lasting impact of the 2006 assault and the years of legal proceedings that followed.
âIt has often felt like I was the one on trial,â Haley said. âThis process has been the worst decision of my life, for me personally.â
Haley also said she had considered withdrawing from the case multiple times, describing the emotional strain of repeatedly revisiting the allegations through the criminal proceedings.
Her testimony gave the court a firsthand account of the personal consequences she associates with the assault and the lengthy prosecution.
Weinstein continues to deny sexually assaulting anyone. His attorneys are expected to appeal both the conviction and the 15-year sentence.
The New York case followed the reversal of Weinsteinâs original conviction. In 2024, New Yorkâs highest court overturned that conviction after finding legal errors related to testimony about uncharged conduct.
Prosecutors subsequently pursued a retrial, leading to the Manhattan jury’s finding that Weinstein was guilty of sexually assaulting Haley.
The new sentence adds to Weinsteinâs separate legal proceedings in California, where he remains subject to the consequences of a rape conviction in that state. The California case is separate from the Manhattan prosecution.
Weinsteinâs criminal cases emerged after numerous women publicly accused him of sexual misconduct in 2017. The allegations prompted criminal investigations and civil litigation and became closely associated with the rise of the global #MeToo movement.
Throughout the proceedings, Weinstein has maintained that his sexual encounters were consensual, while his defense has challenged allegations and evidence presented against him.
The New York case has now produced another major courtroom development with Weinsteinâs 15-year sentence, but the legal fight is not necessarily over.
His expected appeal could extend the litigation surrounding the Manhattan conviction, while his separate California proceedings continue.
For Haley, Wednesdayâs sentencing brought her account of the years-long process back before the court. For Weinstein, the next stage is expected to move through the appeals process.
