There are those who call it "the process of the century". Certainly what is about to begin in front of a Manhattan court in one way or another will leave a profound mark. The defendant is Harvey Weinstein, once the most powerful film producer in Hollywood, today a 67-year-old man accused of rape and various sexual crimes on dozens of women. The movement of the #metoo was born from his case, which allowed to unmask thousands of cases of violence and harassment in America and in the world, giving voice to many women who had never had the courage to come out. Now after two years of battles, a sentence will inevitably come, which will create a significant precedent and influence many other cases. Everything is ready for the show.
The trial is expected to last two months and it is to be sworn that millions of Americans will remain glued to the screen to follow its developments step by step. Record media coverage is expected, while public opinion continues to split between those who would like exemplary punishment and those who instead invite to be careful in distinguishing sexual harassment from the crime of rape. What then is the defensive line of Weinstein's lawyers, who admitted and apologized for his behavior but has always talked about consensual relationships, in some cases lasting even over time. And for which - say his lawyers - the former King Midas of Hollywood has already paid hard by losing everything: his film production company, Miramax, his reputation and his marriage. But now Weinstein risks much more, up to life imprisonment if he is convicted of the most serious crimes that are attributed to him.
It all started at the end of 2017 when the New York Times brought out the first two accusers, the American actress Ashley Judd and the Italian model former Miss Italy finalist Ambra Battilana Gutierrez. Then it was the turn of the New Yorker who brought out other stories, including that of the Italian actress Asia Argento who reported that she was abused by Weinstein in 1997 when she was 21 years old, in a hotel in France during a Miramax party . Since then, the list of divas - and less divas - accusing Weinstein of sexual harassment has grown day by day, to over 80 women, including stars like Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rosanna Arquette, Katherine Kendall.
In the New York trial, however, only the case of two women is judged: an ex assistant who accuses the ex producer of having forced her to have an oral sex relationship, and another anonymous woman who accuses him of rape. Many of the other cases have now become time-barred, others still do not concern the jurisdiction of Manhattan but those of Los Angeles or London, and still others do not contemplate criminal offenses. Finally, many accusers have withdrawn, some for fear of having to pay too high a price for their denunciation and testimony