Harvey Weinstein victims awarded $19 million 'in compensation fund'

The New York Attorney General's office announced Tuesday a nearly $19 million settlement for women who experienced sexual abuse and harassment by imprisoned former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

"Harvey Weinstein and The Weinstein Company failed their female employees. After all the harassment, threats, and discrimination, their victims are finally receiving some justice," New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement, according to CNN.

The settlement stems from a 2018 civil rights lawsuit filed by the New York Attorney General's office against Weinstein, Robert Weinstein and the Weinstein companies at large for "egregious violations of New York's civil rights, human rights, and business laws," the attorney's office said at the time.

Under the plan, a $18,875,000 victims' compensation fund will be created and distributed among "women who experienced a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and gender-based discrimination while working at The Weinstein Company, as well as sexual abuse by Harvey Weinstein," the attorney general's office said.

As part of the agreement, survivors will also be released from confidentiality, non-disclosure, or non-disparagement agreements with The Weinstein Company or any of the former representatives of the company related to any sexual misconduct by Weinstein. They will now be free to tell their stories without fear of retribution, prosecutors said.