Harvey Weinstein will not face a fourth New York rape trial after Manhattan prosecutors dropped the remaining charge tied to Jessica Mann, the accuser who said she could not endure testifying again. The decision was made Thursday in New York, closing one unresolved part of Weinstein’s long-running criminal case while leaving other convictions intact. Mann had accused Weinstein of raping her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013, an allegation he denied.
Prosecutors said they still believed Mann but would not force another trial after years of proceedings. The Manhattan prosecutors dropped their Thursday decision, following an earlier mistrial in May, when jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict on the rape count.
Jessica Mann Declined Another Trial
Mann had testified at three trials and spent days under cross-examination about her relationship with Weinstein before and after the alleged assault. Her testimony became one of the central parts of the New York case that helped define the legal aftermath of the #MeToo movement.
In a letter quoted in court, Mann said she could “no longer endure going through this.” Prosecutor Nicole Blumberg told the judge that dismissal was appropriate because Mann did not want to proceed again. Mann said the case had caused her more harm than good. She described the repeated court process as damaging and humiliating, citing the toll of years of testimony, scrutiny, and public attention.
Charge Stemmed From 2013 Hotel Allegation
The dismissed count involved Mann’s allegation that Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel room on March 18, 2013. Mann testified that she had planned to meet Weinstein in the lobby for breakfast before he took a room. She told jurors that she tried to leave and said no to sexual activity. She testified that Weinstein cornered her, demanded that she undress, and grabbed her arms until she became afraid to resist further.
Earlier Verdict Was Overturned
Weinstein was convicted in New York in 2020 of raping Mann and sexually assaulting Haley. That conviction was seen as a major legal moment in the #MeToo era, but it did not survive appellate review.
New York’s highest court overturned the conviction in 2024, ruling that the original trial judge had allowed testimony from additional accusers whose allegations were not part of the charges. The reversal did not clear Weinstein of wrongdoing. It ordered a new trial because of the trial procedure.
The retrial produced a split result. Jurors convicted Weinstein again of a criminal sexual act involving Haley, acquitted him on another count involving a different accuser, and failed to reach a verdict on Mann’s rape allegation. The New York retrial verdict left the Mann count unresolved.
Weinstein Still Faces Sentencing
The dismissal does not affect Weinstein’s separate New York conviction involving Haley. Prosecutors are seeking a 20-year sentence in that case. Haley testified that Weinstein sexually assaulted her in 2006. Weinstein denied the charge, but the jury found him guilty after the retrial.
California Conviction Remains Separate
Weinstein was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of raping and sexually assaulting an Italian actor. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in California.
Weinstein is appealing both his New York and California convictions. He has denied assaulting anyone and has maintained that his sexual encounters were consensual.
The case became a Test of Repeated Testimony.
The Mann charge became difficult for prosecutors to pursue after repeated trials failed to reach a final verdict. Mann had already appeared before multiple juries and faced extensive questioning about private writings, personal conduct, and her relationship with Weinstein. During the latest trial, Mann appeared visibly strained on the witness stand. She said she struggled to focus, and the court ended early during part of her testimony.
Her letter to the court described the experience as overwhelming. She said she had been fragmented, silenced, defamed, and traumatized by the process.
Defense Welcomes Dismissal
Weinstein’s lawyers welcomed the decision and said the charge should not have been brought. Attorney Jacob Kaplan said outside the court that Weinstein was innocent.
Defense lawyers have repeatedly argued that Weinstein’s accusers had consensual relationships with him and later recast those encounters as crimes. Prosecutors have rejected that framing in the cases where juries convicted him.
A Narrow End to a Major Case
Weinstein was once one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers, associated with major films including “Pulp Fiction,” “Shakespeare in Love,” and “Chocolat.” His career collapsed after widespread sexual misconduct allegations became public in 2017. Those allegations helped accelerate the #MeToo movement, which focused global attention on sexual abuse, workplace power, and accountability.
The criminal cases against Weinstein became a central test of whether high-profile allegations could survive the demands of courtroom proof. Some charges led to convictions. Some ended in acquittals. Others were overturned or dismissed.
The Mann charge now ends without a final jury verdict. The broader criminal case continues through sentencing, appeals, and custody decisions.
Weinstein remains jailed in New York as he awaits sentencing in the Haley case. His California sentence will remain pending until any New York punishment is resolved.
