Harvey Weinstein to pay $17 million to abuse survivors

"They want closure through acceptance of this plan"

Harvey Weinstein will pay over $17 million to survivors of sexual abuse as part of the Weinstein Company liquidation plan. The disgraced producer and convicted rapist will split the sum between a number of women who accused him of sexual abuse and misconduct. Weinstein, who is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence, filed for bankruptcy in 2018 following the allegations against him. The Weinstein Company sold its assets to Spyglass Media Group for $289m before the producer went to trial. The Guardian reports that Judge Mary Walrath overruled an objection this week from a number of women who are hoping to pursue an appeal separate to the bankruptcy case. She said that 83 percent of the women involved in the sexual abuse cases “have expressed very loudly that they want closure through acceptance of this plan, that they do not seek to have to go through any further litigation in order to receive some recovery, some possible recompense [...] although it’s clear that money will never give them that.” Survivors who opt to pursue their appeals elsewhere will have the option to reject the bankruptcy payout, which will likely amount to six figures each. However, some women have argued that a total payout or the option to pursue their appeal elsewhere is unfair. Weinstein was arrested in New York in 2018. He was later charged with rape and multiple counts of sexual abuse by two women. Dozens of people had come forward with similar allegations against the former mogul. Weinstein was found guilty of two counts of criminal sexual assault in the first degree and rape in the third degree in July of last year. He was controversially acquitted of two counts of predatory sexual assault made against him by actor Annabella Sciorra.