Just hours after being sentenced to 23 years in prison Harvey Weinstein was transferred to Bellevue Hospital in New York due to chest pains. According to his spokesperson Juda Engelmayer, 67-year-old Weinstein was transferred to the Manhattan hospital Wednesday evening after experiencing chest pains.
Weinstein was Wednesday sentenced to 23 years for committing a first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape. The charges were based on Miriam Haley's testimony that Weinstein forced oral sex on her in 2006 and Jessica Mann's testimony that he had raped her in 2013.
Weinstein did not testify in his own defence during his trial but chose in the moments before sentencing was announced to speak out in court.
Speaking from a wheelchair behind the defence table, Weinstein said he was "totally confused" saying: "I feel remorse for all of the men who are going through this fight."
His discourse went on for about twenty minutes during which he defended his relationships with the women who testified against him, lamented the fact that he may never see his children again and stated that he was worried about the future of the American legal system.
Actress Mira Sorvino, who has said Weinstein sexually assaulted her, was one of many celebrities who took to social media to express their gratitude at justice having taken its course. Sorvino wrote on Twiiter : “23 years. Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his crimes of rape and sexual assault. I literally cried tears of amazement, gratitude that the justice system has worked on behalf of all of his victims today.”
23 years. Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his crimes of rape and sexual assault. I literally cried tears of amazement, gratitude that the justice system has worked on behalf of all of his victims today.
— Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) March 11, 2020
Weinstein is only expected to be held at the hospital overnight Given his significant health issues, Weinstein's attorneys had previously asked that he be sentenced to five years in prison.
In all likelihood, the ‘king of Hollywood’ will die in jail.
