New York City prosecutors announced Thursday that they have decided to drop the rape charge against former film executive Harvey Weinstein, opting not to put him on a fourth trial in the same case. The decision ends a long chapter of legal proceedings in the metropolis.
Despite the withdrawal of this specific charge, the former movie mogul still faces criminal charges for other sexual offenses in New York as well as California jurisdictions. The allegation of rape in the New York capital, which had been the center of three unsuccessful trial attempts, remains without a definitive resolution. Weinstein will remain in custody.
Previously, in 2020, an appeals court had overturned Weinstein’s initial conviction, and subsequent juries were unable to reach a consensus in the two cases involving actress Jessica Mann. She reported being raped by Weinstein in a New York hotel room in 2013.
Last May, jury members informed the judge that they had failed to reach a unanimous verdict. After approximately three days of deliberation, they sent a note to the magistrate, expressing their inability to reach an agreement.
In their communication, the jurors stated, “We, the jury, request that the judge be informed that the jury members have concluded that we cannot reach a unanimous decision.” The speech highlighted the impasse that led to the current decision.
Prosecutor highlights difficult process for victim Jessica Mann
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg released a statement clarifying that Jessica Mann has not expressed a desire to testify again in a new trial. This factor was crucial to the prosecution’s decision.
Bragg reinforced his team’s confidence in Mann’s testimony: “To be clear, we believe in Ms. Mann’s account and her credibility as a witness. This was an extraordinarily difficult time for her, and she never wavered as she testified before two grand juries and three grand juries over eight years. We thank her for her honesty and her enormous courage,” part of the statement read.
Prosecutors had also recommended a 20-year prison sentence for Weinstein for crimes for which he had already been found guilty in other cases.
Jessica Mann’s account during the last Weinstein trial
During the third trial phase, Jessica Mann appeared to testify, giving an emotional account that lasted almost two hours. His speech was central to the accusation.
She detailed to the jury that, although she had a consensual relationship with Weinstein at certain times, she was raped in 2013, when she repeatedly denied it.
After the trial ended, Mann said: “Today’s decision to declare the trial a mistrial in no way diminishes the truth I told and the violent crimes that Harvey Weinstein committed against me and so many other people. I chose to testify in three trials because I am telling the truth.”
On the other hand, Weinstein’s defense lawyers maintained that the interaction between him and Mann was always consensual. They argued that the actress continued to have meetings with the client even after the alleged incident, and even expressed affectionate feelings for him.
Weinstein’s lawyer issued a statement saying: “Jessica Mann’s accusations against Mr. Weinstein should never have been brought, given that Harvey and Jessica had been in a romantic relationship for five years. The fact that three juries reviewed the case without concluding that Mr. Weinstein committed a crime left the District Attorney’s Office with little alternative but to dismiss the case.”
Despite denying having assaulted anyone, Harvey Weinstein publicly admitted that he “acted wrongly” on several occasions.