Harvey Weinstein‘s rape retrial was declared a mistrial by a judge after a New York jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. It was the third time a New York jury sat to consider the case involving aspiring actress Jessica Mann.
Weinstein is currently jailed in California on separate rape and sexual assault charges. The month-long trial centered on whether Weinstein raped Mann more than a decade ago. He was initially convicted in 2020; that verdict was overturned in 2024, and a second trial last year also ended in a mistrial.
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Jury Deadlock And Deliberation Details
The jury deliberated for approximately 9 hours over 3 days before Judge Curtis Farber declared a mistrial. On Friday morning, jurors passed the judge a note stating they “have concluded that they cannot reach” a unanimous verdict.
The judge directed them to continue deliberating before eventually declaring the mistrial, describing the jury as “hopelessly deadlocked.” “I see no reason to go any further,” Farber said, before thanking and dismissing the jury. The jury was majority male.
Speaking to reporters outside court, one juror said that nine people on the jury wanted to acquit Weinstein, while three wanted to convict him, according to the Associated Press. Weinstein, who was seated in a wheelchair during the trial, showed no reaction as court officers wheeled him out of the room.
Prosecutors React To Mistrial
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg issued a statement after the outcome. “While we are disappointed that the proceedings ended with a mistrial, we deeply respect the jury system and sincerely thank all of the jurors for their time and dedication,” he said. Bragg indicated that prosecutors would consult Mann before deciding on the next steps.
“We will consider our next steps in consultation with Ms. Mann, and in consideration of Harvey Weinstein’s pending sentencing,” he added. Bragg concluded with a broader commitment to the prosecution of sexual violence cases, stating, “As always, we will continue to prosecute crimes of sexual violence – no matter who the defendant is – in a survivor-centered manner that uplifts their voices in the pursuit of justice.“
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Jessica Mann’s Testimony And Statement
During the trial, Mann told the court she had willingly engaged in some sexual encounters with Weinstein but that he forced her to have unwanted sex in a hotel room in March 2013, even as she repeatedly said no. The defense maintained the encounter was consensual. The defense argued the encounter was consensual.
Mann’s account was the prosecution’s most critical piece of the puzzle. After the mistrial was declared, Mann released a statement. The mistrial “doesn’t in any way detract from the truth I told,” she said. “I chose to testify in three trials because I am telling the truth,” she continued, adding, “I deserve justice, which is why I stand up and face unbearable public scrutiny in the name of a greater good.“
Weinstein Defense Team Blames Public Perception
Weinstein’s lawyers argued the mistrial proved how “deeply public perception and prejudice surrounding Harvey Weinstein have become embedded in society.” The defense contended that outside factors had tainted jury deliberations.
“For some people, regardless of the evidence presented, saying ‘not guilty’ has become emotionally or socially impossible,” they stated. The attorneys also took aim at the prosecution’s approach, arguing, “The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office should stop retrying the same case and focus its time and resources on the actual violent crime, chaos, and public safety issues impacting New Yorkers every day.“
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Why Weinstein’s Original Conviction Was Overturned
An appeals court tossed out Weinstein’s 2020 New York sex crimes conviction in 2024, ruling that the trial was unfair because a judge had let in testimony from women whose allegations had nothing to do with the charges at hand.
After the ruling, Weinstein was indicted on new sexual assault charges in the state, leading to the subsequent proceedings.
Earlier Trials And Accusers In The New York Case
The first New York trial called on three women to testify, Mann, former television production assistant Miriam Haley, and model Kaja Sokola, all of whom accused Weinstein of using his power in the entertainment industry to sexually abuse them.
The second retrial centered on Haley and Mann, narrowing the witness pool from the original three accusers. The proceeding that ended in a mistrial on Friday focused solely on Mann.
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Weinstein’s California Conviction And Health
Harvey Weinstein was convicted in Los Angeles on charges involving different accusers, and that conviction means he is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison.
The disgraced former film producer was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer in 2024, and his health has visibly declined in recent years. On the civil side, Weinstein faced lawsuits from a group of women who accused him of sexual harassment and rape, which resulted in a $19 million settlement in 2020.
Weinstein’s Hollywood Career And The MeToo Movement
Before the allegations against him became public, Weinstein and his brother, Bob, co-founded the Miramax film studio. The company put out some of cinema’s most celebrated titles, including Shakespeare in Love, which won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and Pulp Fiction.
More than 100 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct, including rape, since October 2017. Weinstein has consistently denied wrongdoing, insisting throughout years of legal proceedings that every encounter was consensual. When his accusers came forward, and he was subsequently convicted in New York, it galvanized the MeToo movement against sexual abuse by powerful men.
