Weinstein accuser describes her 'huge sense of relief' that the jury 'believed me'
Harvey Weinstein is now a convicted rapist, and one of the women who testified against him is describing her emotional reaction to the verdict.
Weinstein on Monday was convicted on two charges as a jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann in 2013. He was found not guilty of the more serious predatory sexual assault charges, which related to Annabella Sciorra's testimony that Weinstein raped her in 1993 or 1994. Those charges could have landed him a life sentence, although as is, he's facing up to 29 years behind bars.
Haleyi, who provided harrowing testimony about her allegation against Weinstein during the trial, spoke with Good Morning America on Tuesday about the verdict, which she says she heard while she was in a coffee shop.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I just sat down and I started crying," she said. "...It was just a huge sense of relief, just the relief that the jury got it, that they believed me, and that I was heard."
Haleyi went on to say that the verdict "gives me hope that we're making progress" and that people are being educated about the fact that "a lot of sexual assault victims do know their attacker."
Sciorra also spoke out in reaction to the verdict on Monday, saying her testimony was "painful but necessary" and that "we can never regret breaking the silence."
Weinstein will await his March 11 sentencing behind bars, although on Monday, he was taken to a hospital after complaining of chest pains. Brendan Morrow
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'Solitude has become a notable, and worrisome, trend of our times'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Blake Lively accuses rom-com costar of smear job
Speed Read The actor accused Justin Baldoni, her director and costar on "It Ends With Us," of sexual harassment and a revenge campaign
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Germany arrests anti-Islam Saudi in SUV attack
Speed Read The attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg left five people dead and more than 200 wounded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published