Weinstein was the first high-profile man to be convicted in the current phase of the Me Too movement.
Harvey Weinstein is going to prison. The disgraced media mogul whose alleged abuse of multiple women kicked off the current phase of the Me Too movement was sentenced on Wednesday to 23 years in prison after his conviction on February 24 on two charges: a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree.
Though dozens of women came forward to accuse the 67-year-old Weinstein of rape or assault, his conviction was based on the testimony of just two: Jessica Mann, who said Weinstein raped her in 2013, and Miriam Haley, who said he forcibly performed oral sex on her in 2006. The charges Weinstein was convicted on carried a maximum sentence of 29 years in prison; he was acquitted on one charge of rape in the first degree and two counts of predatory sexual assault, which had the possibility of a life sentence.
Weinstein is the first high-profile man to be convicted in this phase of the Me Too movement, and the verdict is significant for his accusers as well as for how it could change the way the justice system handles accusations of sexual assault and rape. Weinstein’s attorneys plan to appeal the verdict, per CNBC; Weinstein still faces pending criminal charges of rape and sexual battery in Los Angeles.
For more on the Weinstein case and its significance to the Me Too movement, read Vox’s previous coverage.
Author: Tanya Pai
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