Deadlock over Jessica Mann’s rape charge means Weinstein could face another courtroom battle
Harvey Weinstein will face a third trial in New York City after jurors failed to reach a verdict on whether he raped hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann in 2013. The decision sets the stage for yet another courtroom battle in one of the most high-profile #MeToo cases.
Weinstein, 73, was convicted in June of forcing oral sex on TV and movie production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. At the same time, he was acquitted of forcing oral sex on former model Kaja Sokola, but the jury could not agree on the charge involving Mann.
The former Hollywood producer is due to be sentenced on 30 September for the Haley conviction — but only if the retrial on the Mann charges does not proceed. If prosecutors move forward, the judge has signalled a desire for the case to be heard within months.
Both sides have pledged readiness for another trial, which would mark Weinstein’s third in New York and fourth overall. His lawyers, however, have not ruled out negotiations, though they insist he will not plead guilty to raping Mann. They are urging prosecutors to abandon the charge entirely.
A conviction on the Mann allegation would carry a maximum sentence of four years, less than Weinstein has already served and far below the potential 25-year sentence linked to the Haley case.
Weinstein’s first trial in 2020 ended with his conviction for raping Mann and forcing oral sex on Haley. But in 2024, an appeals court overturned those convictions, citing legal errors relating to other women’s testimony. The retrial earlier this year resulted in a new conviction for the Haley assault and an acquittal regarding another woman, while jurors remained divided on Mann’s allegation.
Mann has testified that her relationship with Weinstein was on-and-off and, at times, consensual. However, she told the court that in 2013 he cornered her in a hotel room, ignored her protests, and persisted until she “just gave up.”
Embed from Getty ImagesIf the retrial goes ahead in the autumn, it will thrust Weinstein’s case back into the spotlight during the closing stages of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s re-election campaign. Bragg, who has prioritised prosecuting sex crimes, has expressed satisfaction with the Haley conviction but maintains that Mann is entitled to a verdict on her claim.
Weinstein’s lawyer Arthur Aidala told reporters it was now up to prosecutors to decide whether to proceed or drop the case and allow sentencing. Weinstein, who appeared in court in a wheelchair wearing a blue suit and black-rimmed glasses, is prepared to fight the charge again, although Aidala added: “Never say never.”
The disgraced film mogul has also been convicted of sex crimes in California, a verdict he is appealing. He continues to deny all allegations of sexual misconduct.
This latest development extends a legal saga that began when multiple women came forward with allegations against Weinstein, sparking a global reckoning over sexual abuse and harassment in the entertainment industry. If the retrial proceeds, it will again test the willingness of jurors to navigate complex allegations involving power, consent, and credibility in a case that has already defined an era of accountability in Hollywood
