Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Wednesday morning by a judge in New York City.
Weinstein’s fall from one of the most influential men in the movie industry to a convicted sex offender who is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison was a two-year saga that marked the beginning of the #MeToo movement.
Before the sentencing, two of Weinstein’s victims gave emotional testimonies and, when given the opportunity to speak, Weinstein claimed that he thought his sexual encounters were consensual and said that he was sorry, claiming, “I really feel remorse for this situation. I feel it deeply in my heart. I’m really trying, I’m really trying to be a better person.”
Justice James A. Burke could have sentenced Weinstein to as few as five years. His lawyers argued that even a five-year sentence would mean that 67-year-old Weinstein will spend the rest of his life in prison.
In a letter to the judge, they argued, “The grave reality is that Mr. Weinstein may not even outlive that term.” The prosecutor asked for the longest term, which would have been 29 years.
The group of 24 women who spoke out against Weinstein became known as the silence breakers.
In a statement after the sentencing, they wrote, “Harvey Weinstein’s legacy will always be that he’s a convicted rapist. He is going to jail — but no amount of jail time will repair the lives he ruined, the careers he destroyed or the damage he has caused.”
BREAKING: Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his February conviction of criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree.
— TIME'S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) March 11, 2020
The following is a statement from 24 #silencebreakers in response: pic.twitter.com/6LhmIhDaMz
While the story of Weinstein’s behavior traces over many decades, the end of that story occurred over a brief period. The trial in New York began in early January and Weinstein was found guilty of rape on February 24 and sentenced less than a month later. His lawyers previously said that they will appeal the ruling.
