What Did Harvey Weinstein Do? A Timeline of the Accusations, Trials and Convictions

Harvey Weinstein produced classic American films such as Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love and The Aviator. Then, in 2017, multiple women accused Weinstein of sexual abuse in a New York Times article. 

In response, Weinstein issued a statement sincerely apologizing for his actions, which he acknowledged “caused a lot of pain.” “Though I’m trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go,” he stated in October 2017. “That is my commitment. My journey now will be to learn about myself and conquer my demons.” 

Since then, more than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment or rape dating back to the 1970s. The allegations helped catapult the #MeToo movement and subsequent abuse allegations against other powerful figures all over the world.

“The Silence Breakers” were named Time magazine’s 2017 Person of the Year.

Hope Exiner d’Amore, who had worked for Weinstein, said he allegedly raped her in a hotel room in Buffalo, N.Y.

Actress Cynthia Burr claimed during the same time, Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him in a hallway in New York City.

Both accusations were not publicized until 2017 and Weinstein was not charged for either allegation. 

Weinstein allegedly raped actress Annabella Sciorra at her Manhattan apartment after an industry dinner. Weinstein was never charged with raping Sciorra, but she provided testimony of what allegedly happened in that apartment during his 2020 New York trial related to separate sexual assault accusations. Prosecutors used her testimony to establish a pattern of abuse over time.

“I spoke for myself and with the strength of the 80-plus victims of Harvey Weinstein in my heart,” she said. “While we hope for continued righteous outcomes that bring absolute justice, we can never regret breaking the silence. For in speaking truth to power we pave the way for a more just culture, free of the scourge of violence against women.”

Dancer Ashley Matthau told The New York Times in 2017 that Weinstein pushed her on a bed and masturbated while straddling her. She was in his hotel room to discuss future projects. Days later, he paid her to keep her quiet. Weinstein was never charged for the Matthau case, but she was one of eight women who testified during his 2022 Los Angeles trial.

However, Matthau did retain a lawyer, but when they met with Weinstein and his legal representation, Matthau agreed to enter into a settlement for more than $100,000.

Actress Lucia Evans told The New Yorker that "he forced me to perform oral sex on him.” Her account led prosecutors to pursue a criminal sexual act charge against Weinstein, although the case was dismissed in 2018.

Weinstein’s lawyer said in court he believed Evans had lied to the grand jury. He also said he believed a police detective had attempted to influence the case by keeping a witness from testifying about her misstatements. Weinstein continued to deny any allegations of nonconsensual sex. 

Weinstein allegedly forced himself on Miriam “Mimi” Haley, a former production assistant at Weinstein's production company. She claimed he forcibly performed oral sex on her.

"No woman should have to be subjected to this type of unacceptable abuse," she said in 2017. "Women have the right to say no. A 'no' is a 'no,' regardless of the circumstances—and I told Harvey 'no.'"

Weinstein was charged with sexual assault in New York and tried in 2020 where Haley testified against him, leading to a conviction. That conviction was later overturned by the New York Court of Appeals, and he was tried again in 2025. 

A second jury found Weinstein guilty of criminal sexual act in the first degree. A mistrial was declared pertaining to the count of rape in the third degree and was acquitted of a third alleged sex assault.

Weinstein never released a statement pertaining to Haley but has consistently maintained his innocence in all accusations of nonconsensual sex. 

Lacey Dorn, then 22, was introduced to Weinstein at a New York Film Festival party. She ran into him a few weeks later at a party and alleged he grabbed between her legs and touched her buttocks and crotch through her clothes.

Weinstein was never charged in relation with Dorn. He never released a statement about her accusations directly but said through a spokesperson that “any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied.”

Weinstein allegedly went to a hotel and raped a woman after pushing his way inside her room, the office of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey stated in a 2020 news release. He was then accused of sexually assaulting another woman the next night.

Los Angeles prosecutors will later file four charges against Weinstein in 2020 based on those accusations, one felony count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint.

He was found guilty of three of seven charges in his Los Angeles trial held in December 2022. Weinstein denied all allegations and did not testify. His attorneys claimed the women had agreed to “transactional sex” with Weinstein in order to advance their careers in Hollywood.

Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, a model, reported Weinstein to the New York Police Department for allegedly groping her during a meeting at his Tribeca office. At the urging of police, Gutierrez set up a meeting with Weinstein and wore a recording device. At that meeting, he admitted to groping her.

“Oh, please, I’m sorry, just come on in. I’m used to that. Come on. Please. . . I won’t do it again,” Weinstein can be heard saying.

Despite that, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. did not pursue the charges, saying at the time that "a criminal charge is not supported." After the charges were dropped, Weinstein donated $10,000 to his political campaign.

Vance would later be criticized for that decision after a 2017 New Yorker story about Gutierrez's allegations was published.

In a series of now-deleted tweets, actress Rose McGowan alleges that she was raped by the head of a movie studio, but doesn’t name anyone. 

The New York Times published a story titled “Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades” on October 5 that detailed decades of allegations of sexual abuse against Weinstein, including interviews from McGowan and actress Ashley Judd.

The story focuses on accusations that he forced women to massage him and watch him naked by promising to help advance their careers. 

Later that day, Weinstein issued an apology that began with the line, “I came of age in the 60’s and 70’s, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different. That was the culture then.” He acknowledged he “caused a lot of pain” but disputed allegations that he harassed female employees over nearly three decades.

On October 8, the board of Weinstein’s company fired him. The next day, another accuser, British actress Romola Garai, broke her silence and told The Guardian that she felt violated when, at 18 years old, Weinstein answered the door to his hotel room in a robe. Weinstein was not charged related to this allegation.

On October 10, The New Yorker released a second investigation into the Weinstein allegations, which focused on 13 additional women. Three accused Weinstein of rape. His spokeswoman released a statement saying “any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein."

Also on October 10, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie claimed they were harassed by Weinstein, according to BBC. He was never charged related to their allegations. The same day, Weinstein's wife, Georgina Chapman, announced she was leaving him. Throughout the month, more accusers went public and the organization behind the Oscars voted to expel Weinstein. 

"Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances,” according to a statement from Weinstein's representative. “Mr. Weinstein obviously can’t speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr. Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual. Mr. Weinstein has begun counseling, has listened to the community and is pursuing a better path. Mr. Weinstein is hoping that, if he makes enough progress, he will be given a second chance.”

On October 12, Weinstein responded to the claims in a video, saying, “I'm not doing OK but I'm trying. I got to get help. You know what, we all make mistakes ... A second chance, I hope.”

More women continued to accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment, some dating back to the 1970s. An anonymous actress filed a lawsuit alleging two sexual assaults in 2000 in Toronto. The suit was ultimately resolved as part of a later class-action settlement.

On November 3, the New York Police Department said they had "an actual case" against Weinstein.

Sandeep Rehal, a former assistant to Weinstein, filed a lawsuit against him alleging sexual harassment and that she “was forced to work in a pervasive and severe sexually hostile work environment at The Weinstein Company LLC.” Rehal worked for Weinstein for two years, according to the lawsuit. 

Weinstein was never criminally charged with anything related to Rehal’s allegations.

In response Weinstein’s representative released a statement that said, “Mr. Weinstein categorically denies these claims and his lawyers will respond in the appropriate legal forum with evidence proving they are untrue.”

Rehal settled and received $500,000 after a class action lawsuit was filed in 2020 where a $18.875 million settlement fund was built.

Weinstein’s lawyer, Imran Ansari, sent The Hollywood Reporter a statement that said “with closure in sight on one front, Mr. Weinstein remains intently focused in defending himself on all remaining legal matters, including the appeal of his criminal conviction, civil lawsuits, and the charges filed against him in LA. He continues to pursue all legal recourse available to him and remains steadfast in the defense of those matters.”

New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo ordered a review of the decision not to charge Weinstein in 2015. 

That same day, The Weinstein Company declared bankruptcy. 

Vance assigned a new prosecutor, Joan Illuzzi, to lead the investigation. 

A judge approved the sale of The Weinstein Company to Lantern Capital Partners on May 8, with the deal closing a month later in July.

Weinstein surrendered to New York police on May 25, marking the first time he is arrested in connection with any allegation against him.

DA Vance then submitted Weinstein's initial charges: rape in the first and third degrees and criminal sexual act in the first degree, for forcible sexual acts against two women in 2013 and 2004, respectively.

Weinstein pleaded not guilty about a week and a half later.

Weinstein was given additional charges related to accusations that he forced oral sex on Mimi Haley in his Manhattan apartment in July 2006. Weinstein never released a statement pertaining to Haley but has consistently maintained his innocence in all accusations of nonconsensual sex. 

A judge dismissed the forcible oral sex charge against Weinstein that involved Lucia Evans’s 2004 allegation after prosecutors admitted the lead detective withheld pertinent information about a witness who had cast doubt on her account.

A new indictment against Weinstein allowed prosecutors to call Sciorra, the woman who accused him of raping her in 1993 or 1994, to testify against him in his 2020 trial where he will be convicted.

Weinstein was indicted in Los Angeles on allegations of rape and groping two women in 2013. More charges are added later.

New York jurors began deliberations after a monthlong trial. They deliberated for five days and convicted Weinstein on third-degree rape and a first-degree criminal sexual act, but acquitted him of the most serious charges.

Though his lawyers appealed for leniency, arguing that the minimum sentence of five years could be a "life sentence" for the now 67-year-old Weinstein, he received a sentence of 23 years in prison. 

Four additional accusers came forward alleging sexual assaults from 1984 to 2013, including a woman who was 17 at the time.

Weinstein's legal representative told BBC that “Weinstein intends to defend against the claims filed anonymously against him yesterday.”

Weinstein appeals his New York conviction.

A New York appeals court unanimously upheld the 2020 conviction.

Weinstein’s trial in Los Angeles begins. He is charged with raping and sexually assaulting four women between 2004 to 2013.

Weinstein is found guilty in three of the seven charges against him in Los Angeles including rape, forced oral copulation and sexual misconduct.

Weinstein is sentenced to 16 years for his Los Angeles conviction, to be served after his 23-year sentence in New York. He will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.

On April 25, Weinstein's 2020 sex crime conviction was overturned in New York. In a 4-3 decision, the New York State Court of Appeals ruled that Weinstein did not receive a fair trial because the proceedings included testimony from women whose allegations were not part of the case. 

Days later, Weinstein was hospitalized in state custody. A state spokesperson said Weinstein remained in custody because of his Los Angeles conviction and sentence.

During a hearing, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg says his office is working on a new trial. On May 29, prosecutors inform a judge they may seek a new indictment. Additional survivors who had come forward share they may be willing to testify.

Weinstein has emergency heart surgery on September 9 and pleads not guilty on September 18 to a new indictment on the charge of sexually assaulting model Kaja Sokola in a Manhattan hotel in 2006.

A new trial against Weinstein, then 73, begins in New York. The trial lasts six weeks and includes testimony from nearly 30 witnesses. 

The new jury finds him guilty on one count and not guilty on another count of criminal sexual act and reached no verdict on the single count of rape he had faced. 

Judge Curtis Farber sends jurors back to deliberate on that third "no verdict" count, but declares a mistrial the next day.

Weinstein attends his Manhattan hearing with a new attorney. He faces a third retrial on allegations that he raped actress Jessica Mann in 2013.

On March 10, The Hollywood Reporter published a Q&A-style article after a reporter met with Weinstein in jail. Weinstein says the allegations against him are untrue, and he is asked why he believes that many women would lie about him. 

“For a lot of reasons. But mainly because there’s money involved,” he sats. “You know, one woman got half a million dollars. Another got paid $500,000. A third got $3 million. All anyone had to do to walk off with a check was fill out a form that said I sexually assaulted them. So they filled it out, and the insurance company eventually paid out tens of millions of dollars.”

Later he adds, “Did I make a pass at some of these women unsuccessfully? Did I overplay my hand? Yes. Was I pushy or overly seductive? Yes to all of that. Look, I should never have gone out with the people I went out with. I was married to a fantastic woman who had no idea what I was doing. I lied all the time. I improperly used my staff to hide these things. But did I ever sexually assault a woman? No. I never did that.”

Opening statements begin in Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial.

Weinstein leaves court due to chest pains as the jury begins to deliberate. 

A judge declares a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a verdict in the rape trial. 

Prosecutors declare Weinstein will not face a fourth trial after Mann says she can “no longer endure going through” the process. Weinstein denied the rape charge and claimed everything that happened between him and Mann was consensual.