Prosecutors Drop Rape Charge Against Harvey Weinstein
New York prosecutors have decided not to pursue a rape charge against Harvey Weinstein for the fourth time. The case had previously undergone three trials, resulting in one overturned conviction and two hung juries. Weinstein's other convictions, including a sexual felony in New York and additional convictions in California, remain in effect.
On Thursday, prosecutors announced the decision to drop the case after consultations with Weinstein's accuser, hair stylist and actor Jessica Mann, who expressed that she does not wish to endure another trial.
"To be clear, we believe Ms Mann's account and her credibility as a witness," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr said.
"This has been an extraordinarily taxing ordeal for her, and she has never wavered while testifying in front of two grand juries and three trial juries over the course of eight years," Bragg continued in his statement. "We thank her for her honesty and her tremendous bravery."
Background of the Trials
The initial trial involving Mann took place in 2020 and included testimony from three women: Mann, former television production assistant Miriam Haley, and model Kaja Sokola. Each accused Weinstein of leveraging his influence in the entertainment industry to sexually abuse them. Weinstein was convicted in this trial; however, the conviction was overturned in 2024 when an appeals court ruled that the judge had improperly admitted testimony from women whose allegations were unrelated to the case.
A second trial, held in 2025, involved Mann and Haley. The jury found Weinstein guilty of sexually assaulting Haley but was deadlocked on the rape charge involving Mann. Consequently, the judge ordered a new trial for the Mann case.
The third trial, the most recent, concluded in May 2026 with another hung jury unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
Details from the Third Trial
During the third trial, Mann testified that while she consented to some sexual encounters with Weinstein, he forced her to have unwanted sex in a hotel room in March 2013 despite her repeated refusals.
Weinstein's defense argued that the encounter was consensual.
"Harvey is relieved by today's outcome," Juda S Engelmayer, a representative for Weinstein, said in a statement.
"We believe this is the result that should have been reached from the outset, had the grand jury been presented with the full scope of the emails, text messages, and other private communications."
Sentencing and Broader Context
Weinstein has not yet been sentenced for the conviction related to assaulting Haley. District Attorney Bragg stated on Thursday that prosecutors recommend a 20-year sentence.
Overall, Weinstein has faced accusations of sexual misconduct, assault, and rape from over 100 women. While not all allegations led to criminal charges, his conviction in California, which resulted in a 16-year prison sentence, suggests he is likely to spend the remainder of his life incarcerated.
The decision of his accusers to come forward and his subsequent convictions played a significant role in energizing the #MeToo movement, which addresses sexual abuse by powerful men.
