In a landmark case for the #MeToo campaign, film mogul Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison by a New York judge Wednesday for rape and sexual harassment.
Justice James Burke refused pleas of Weinstein’s defense team to give their client the minimum five years behind bars, delivering a harsh sentence near the limit allowed 29 years.
Weinstein earlier told the court that he was “totally confused” about what taking place.
“I’m worried about this country,” he said, adding that his “empathy” had risen after charges against him ignited the global #MeToo reckoning against men exploiting power positions.
The sentence capped a dramatic downfall for the once-powerful 67-year-old, nearly three years after accusations against him sparked the #MeToo campaign against sexual harassment, turned him into a pariah and ended his career.
Nearly 90 women, including Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek, came forward against the Oscar-winning producer of “Shakespeare in Love” and many other critical and box office hits claiming 40 years of vile sexual behavior.
