Harvey Weinstein’s high-profile retrial is nearing its conclusion as both prosecution and defense delivered their closing arguments in a New York courtroom on Tuesday. The former Hollywood producer is once again facing rape and sexual assault charges in a case that helped ignite the global #MeToo movement.
Weinstein, now 73, is accused of raping a woman in 2013 and forcing oral sex on two others in 2006. His attorney, Arthur Aidala, framed him as a scapegoat — “the original sinner” of the #MeToo era — insisting all encounters were consensual and part of what he described as a “courting game.”
Sharp Contrast in Final Arguments
The courtroom saw a stark contrast in tone between the two legal teams. Aidala used humor, dramatic reenactments, and cultural references to paint Weinstein’s accusers as opportunists seeking fame and compensation. He described Weinstein as a self-made New Yorker surrounded by women who used him for career advancement and later turned against him.
In response, lead prosecutor Nicole Blumberg was direct and unwavering. She argued that Weinstein exploited his power to silence vulnerable women. “This was never about fooling around. It was about rape,” she told jurors.
Blumberg emphasized that Weinstein selected victims he believed would remain silent, but ultimately underestimated them. She urged jurors to remember the emotional and graphic testimonies from the women who took the stand.
Who Were the Accusers?
Three women are central to the prosecution’s case. Jessica Mann, an aspiring actor; Miriam Haley, a former production assistant; and Kaja Sokola, a former teenage model, all accused Weinstein of sexual assault.
Each woman testified in detail about how Weinstein allegedly used his influence in the entertainment industry to lure and assault them. The prosecution introduced Sokola’s case for the first time during the retrial, while other accusers from the original 2020 trial were excluded due to an appeals court ruling deeming their testimony prejudicial.
Defense Strategy Focused on Doubt
Weinstein chose not to testify in his defense. His legal team instead focused on discrediting the accusers’ testimonies and highlighting inconsistencies in their stories. In one instance, Sokola was presented with pages from her private journal during cross-examination in an attempt to question her credibility.
Aidala’s argument centered on the idea that Weinstein’s accusers maintained friendly contact with him and that their relationships were transactional in nature.
A Defining Case for #MeToo
Weinstein’s original 2020 conviction was a major milestone for the #MeToo movement. That conviction was later overturned, leading to the current retrial. While he is already serving time following a separate California conviction, the outcome of this New York case is being closely watched as a test of accountability for powerful men accused of sexual misconduct.
Jurors, most of them women, are expected to begin deliberations on Wednesday. The verdict could shape not just Weinstein’s future, but also the broader conversation about justice in the post-#MeToo era.
