Prosecutors Drop Harvey Weinstein Rape Charge After Juries Deadlock
NEW YORK — Manhattan prosecutors on Thursday formally dismissed a third-degree rape charge against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, marking a significant narrowing of the state's landmark sexual assault case against him. The decision follows two separate trial juries failing to reach a unanimous verdict on the specific allegation, which was brought by accuser Jessica Mann.
In a statement, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office disclosed that Mann had expressed a desire not to testify in what would have been a grueling fourth trial. "To be clear, we believe this survivor, and we are incredibly grateful for her courage," the D.A.’s office said, emphasizing the immense emotional toll of repeated court appearances. Under New York law, prosecuting the charge without the primary complainant’s testimony is virtually impossible, prompting the state to officially withdraw the count.
The legal landscape surrounding Weinstein, 72, has grown increasingly complex since his historic 2020 conviction in New York was overturned. In April 2024, the New York Court of Appeals threw out his conviction on the grounds that the original trial judge had improperly allowed testimony from "Molineux" witnesses—women whose allegations of abuse were not part of the formal charges. The landmark appellate ruling forced prosecutors to prepare for a complete retrial. While the third-degree rape charge involving Mann has now been dropped, the district attorney's office continues to move forward with plans for a retrial on the remaining charges, including a first-degree criminal sexual act charge involving another complainant.
Despite this development, Weinstein remains behind bars. He was convicted in a separate 2022 trial in Los Angeles of rape and sexual assault, resulting in a 16-year prison sentence that he has yet to serve. Currently split between the Rikers Island jail complex in New York and Bellevue Hospital due to ongoing health complications, Weinstein’s ongoing legal battles continue to serve as a pivotal touchstone for the global #MeToo movement and the complexities of prosecuting historic sexual abuse cases.