Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 15 years for sexual assault

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in New York for sexually assaulting former production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. The sentence was handed down on Wednesday by Judge Curtis Farber after Weinstein was convicted during a retrial in 2025.

Haley Describes Lasting Impact

Haley told the court that the assault had a lasting effect on her life and sense of security. She said speaking publicly about the case had required her to repeatedly relive the experience and described the consequences as something that may never go away.

Weinstein Maintains His Innocence

Weinstein appeared in court in a wheelchair and addressed the judge before sentencing. He apologised for the impact of his past conduct while continuing to deny sexually assaulting anyone. His spokesman said Weinstein maintains his innocence and strongly disagrees with the sentence.

2020 Conviction Overturned

Weinstein was first convicted in New York in 2020 for sexually assaulting Haley and raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison, but New York’s highest court overturned the convictions in 2024, ruling that he had not received a fair trial.

Retrial Leads to New Conviction

Prosecutors brought Weinstein back to trial in 2025. The jury convicted him of first-degree criminal sexual act involving Haley and acquitted him of a separate sexual assault charge involving former model Kaja Sokola. Jurors could not reach a verdict on the rape charge involving Mann.

Mann Rape Charge Dropped

The rape allegation involving Mann was tried again in 2026, but the jury again failed to reach a verdict, resulting in a mistrial. Prosecutors later dropped the charge after Mann indicated that she did not want to testify in another trial.

Separate California Conviction

Weinstein also remains affected by a separate California case. He was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of rape and sexual assault and received a 16-year sentence. A California appeals court upheld the convictions in 2026 but ordered a new sentencing because the original judge had considered the now-overturned New York convictions when determining the prison term.

Judge Criticises Weinstein

During Wednesday’s sentencing, Judge Curtis Farber criticised Weinstein’s continued denial of responsibility. Farber said Weinstein had once been one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood but that his professional achievements could not outweigh the conduct for which he was convicted.

#MeToo Movement

Weinstein’s original 2020 conviction became a major moment in the #MeToo movement, which encouraged women to speak publicly about sexual misconduct and abuse. More than 100 women have accused Weinstein of misconduct, allegations he has consistently denied.

Legal Saga Continues

The 15-year New York sentence adds to Weinstein’s lengthy legal battle, which has involved multiple trials, appeals and convictions across two states. He remains in custody and is awaiting resentencing in California.