Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein did not get the Hollywood red-carpet treatment when he entered a New York City courthouse to face charges of raping one woman and forcing another to perform oral sex. Instead, he entered wearing handcuffs. Three pairs in fact, because he’s kind of a big guy.
It was being a big guy that allowed Weinstein to get away with harassing, assaulting, and intimidating women for decades. Decades of using his wealth and power to force women to submit to him, and destroyed the careers of those who wouldn’t. He’d often coerce or buy silence, and even employed an Israeli security firm to collect information on his accusers. Over 90 women have accused him of harassment and assault. While a few of his accusers are famous, many are not, and maybe it’s because of Weinstein why they’re not.
But it was the famous that finally brought the accusations out from being just rumors and whispers in Hollywood, to public exposure, to eventual criminal charges. It spawned the #MeToo movement which has brought to light harassment and assaults from other famous men.
Other famous men like Bill Cosby, who will now be going to prison. I’m sure Weinstein has Cosby in mind as he prepares his defense.
Weinstein is out on $1 million bail and has been extended the luxury of traveling between his homes in New York City and Connecticut, although with an ankle monitoring bracelet. He’s also surrendered his passport, so he won’t be able to flee the country.
Weinstein may not ever see the inside of a prison, even if all the criminal accusations are true. His legal team is preparing a defense admitting his bad behavior, which they say is not criminal or on trial. Will it work? Ask Donald Trump.
This is a nation that disregarded numerous horrible traits of Trump while putting him in the White House. Trump has been accused by nearly 20 women and has bought the silence of others. The number of those paid off is only known by Trump and his lawyer/fixer, Michael Cohen. Weinstein’s lawyers will be seeking people to put on a jury who will disregard bad behavior.
Perhaps his lawyer’s first question to potential jurors will be, “did you vote for Donald Trump?”
Watch me draw.
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