Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of the acts of rape in the third degree and criminal sexual act in the first degree with a sentence between 5 to 25 years in prison on Feb. 24 in Manhattan, New York. It should be noted however, that Weinstein was acquitted on the arguably most severe charges of predatory sexual assault and rape in the first degree. Nevertheless, let’s take a brief look at how this all unfolded.

Weinstein was once a Hollywood giant. He and his brother founded Miramax and subsequently became a dominating force in Hollywood to the point where Weinstein supposedly had a “Weinstein Machine ” consisting of actors, influencers, and agents working to protect his secrets and fame, according to The New York Times. But through all of his years in Hollywood, he faced crimes he was charged for as multiple women and actresses testified about their experiences with him. 

Weinstein had notoriety in Hollywood for being sexually aggressive and being forcefully promiscuous. But his record only stretched as far as rumors and whispers, never gaining traction, for many knew that Weinstein’s influence and connections kept him well protected. That changed on Oct. 5, 2017, as The New York Times published accounts by a few accusers, namely Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan. But the situation became even more serious as The New Yorker also published more allegations. 

At this point, Weinstein responded saying, “I so respect all women and regret what happened,” without admitting guilt to addressing the situation directly. From there a string of misery struck Weinstein as he was expelled from the Academy, his company, The Weinstein Company, began to file for bankruptcy, and eventually was arrested by the New York Police on May 25, 2018. His trial however, wouldn’t start until over 18 months later.

Last month, the Weinstein trial began, and multiple witnesses began to take the pulpit in a Manhattan court. One actress, Annabella Sciorra, vividly recalled how Weinstein dropped her off at her residence, then came back and pushed through her door before holding her in a fragile position before assaulting her. British actor Miriam Haley also recounted her trauma as she detailed how Weinstein kept pushing her down every time she tried to get up from the bed and told the court how he held her down firmly. Haley reported that she was afraid of telling the police due to her being a British citizen and her not having a U.S. work visa. These recountings are only some of the memories the witnesses had about Weinstein’s abuse.

The story is not over, however, as Weinstein still has charges to face in Los Angeles. 

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