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Harvey Weinstein entering the State Supreme Court in New York last month. Louis Lanzano/SIPA USA/PA Images

Harvey Weinstein will be sentenced today - he could face 29 years in prison

Last month, the disgraced Hollywood mogul was convicted of sexual assault and rape.

HARVEY WEINSTEIN WILL be sentenced today for his New York rape conviction. 

The sentencing may bring an end to one of the most high-profile criminal prosecutions in years, as Weinstein – once one of the most powerful men in the film business – will learn how long he will spend behind bars. 

Last month, the disgraced Hollywood mogul was convicted of sexual assault and rape. 

He was found guilty of third degree rape in the case of Jessica Mann, 34, who said Weinstein raped her in March 2013. He was found guilty of first degree sexual assault in the case of Mimi Haleyi, who alleged he forcibly performed oral sex on her in July 2006.

After his February 24 conviction, he was sent to Bellevue Hospital amid concerns about high blood pressure and heart palpitations for more than a week before being transferred late last week to an infirmary at the notorious Rikers Island jail complex.

Rikers is one of America’s most high-profile prisons and has incarcerated celebrities including Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols, rapper Tupac Shakur and former International Monetary Fund managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

The sprawling complex, known for regular violent incidents against inmates and guards, is due to close by 2026.

Sentence

The court will convene at 9.30 am today (1.30 pm Irish time) and soon after the sentence will be handed down. 

On the criminal sex act count, Weinstein faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 25 years, while the third-degree rape count carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison – meaning Weinstein could face 29 years in prison. 

The case, and subsequently Weinstein’s conviction, has been seen as a flashpoint in the #MeToo movement and has caused ripples well beyond Hollywood.

In the UK, earlier this week, a former Scottish government official who has accused former first minister Alex Salmond of sexual assault said she suffered flashbacks following the Harvey Weinstein case.

More generally, the story sparked a conversation about the mistreatment of women by powerful men. 

Letter

In a letter filed in advance of Weinstein’s sentencing today for his New York City rape conviction, his defence team asked Judge James Burke to give him to only five years behind bars — far from the potential 29-year maximum term.

A man who was once admired for putting part of his fortune into charitable causes during his rise to one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers now “cannot walk outside without being heckled”, the papers say.

“He has lost his means to earn a living. Simply put, his fall from grace has been historic, perhaps unmatched in the age of social media.”

Even if the 67-year-old is given a lesser term, “the grave reality is that Mr Weinstein may not even outlive that term” making it “a de facto life sentence,” the papers say.

His legal team has already promised an appeal, suggesting that the saga may not yet be over. 

With reporting from Dominic McGrath and AFP

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    Mute David Shiels
    Favourite David Shiels
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    Mar 11th 2020, 7:09 AM

    Throw away the key

    98
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    Mute Mark Johnson
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:49 AM

    @David Shiels: Surprised that The Journal are accepting comments to this story.

    19
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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:18 AM

    @Mark Johnson: he’s already been found guilty by the courts.

    30
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    Mute Football in the Groin
    Favourite Football in the Groin
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:00 AM

    The palpitations, the walking aid, it’s all to try and garner sympathy and influence whoever is sentencing him to get a shorter sentence, it’s so, so obvious. Snake in the grass. Hope whoever is sentencing him cops this and throws the book at him.

    86
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    Mute Richard Cronin
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:35 AM

    @Football in the Groin: He go to some country club of a prison, he will never go to a state or county prison. Even when he was transferred to Rikers island last week it was to the infirmary & not general population.

    8
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    Mute Alan McDonald
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    Mar 11th 2020, 7:09 AM

    My money is on 5-8 years

    32
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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Mar 11th 2020, 7:59 AM

    I hope he finds love. In the shower.

    40
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    Mute Tricia G
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:53 AM

    @John Mulligan: I do not get this obsession with prison rape some people seem to have.

    I want him jailed, for a long, LONG time. But I wouldn’t ever wish rape on anyone.

    38
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    Mute Miriam
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    Mar 11th 2020, 7:28 AM

    poor baby is getting palpitations from being taken to task over his actions. It’s always the same with these bullies, total wet cowards when it comes to even a suggestion of suffering for themselves. grr!

    57
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    Mute Helen O'Neill
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    Mar 11th 2020, 7:29 AM

    Good.

    18
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    Mute Jake Kelly
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:02 AM

    Make an example of the creep. 20 to 30 years feels about right. If he’s actually as sick as he’s pretending to be to garner sympathy he’ll meet his maker behind bars

    22
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    Mute Mandy O'Sullivan
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    Mar 11th 2020, 7:14 AM

    Give him a triple dose of COVID-19 !!!

    18
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    Mute Raven
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:53 AM

    He’ll be ‘suicided’ inside for sure, his celebrity and Democrat pals must be sweating bullets at this stage.

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    Mute Anthony David
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:42 AM

    @Raven: always one…..

    10
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    Mute Raven
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    Mar 12th 2020, 9:48 PM

    @Anthony David:
    Laura Silsby, NXIVM, Haiti, Epstein, Heidi Klum…join the dots, you Human Ostrich.

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    Mute Stan Kowalskis
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:12 AM

    You’re a looking way from a fancy hotel room now harvey ha ha ha ha

    9
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    Mute Stan Kowalskis
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:13 AM

    @Stan Kowalskis: long way

    5
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    Mute Charles McCarthy
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:35 AM

    What a fall from grace. As garret Fitzgerald very astutely observed, he had a flawed pedigree.

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    Mute Keith O Hanlon
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    Mar 11th 2020, 9:49 AM

    A reality check is about to happen what a clown

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    Mute Fabio Dillon
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    Mar 11th 2020, 8:07 AM

    What a pathetic human being. Rot.

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    Mute Lynne Anthony
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    Mar 11th 2020, 7:14 AM

    Chop off his head.

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    Mute David Saunders
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    Mar 11th 2020, 2:13 PM

    Aaagh the poor oul r#pist is in panic mode. Cut his prison time from 30 years to 20 year’s for good acting skills

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    Mute Noel O Sullivan
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    Mar 11th 2020, 2:01 PM

    I m glad he was found guilty. Interesting though that his victim admitted to consensual sex with him afterwards. Jury must have argued ovet that

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    Mute Diarmuid Walshe
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    Mar 11th 2020, 2:14 PM

    He looks creepy and rapey.

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    Mute Irisheyes
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    Mar 11th 2020, 1:27 PM

    Give him the chair, set an example, horrible man

    1
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