New York prosecutors have chosen not to pursue a rape charge against disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein for a fourth time. The case had already been tried three times, once resulting in an overturned conviction and twice in hung juries. Weinstein’s other convictions, including another sexual felony in New York and others in California, still stand.
Prosecutors said on Thursday they are dropping the case following discussions with Weinstein’s accuser, hair stylist and actor Jessica Mann, who does not wish to go through with the demands of 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.”
The first trial involving Mann, in 2020, was based on the testimony of three women – Mann, former television production assistant Miriam Haley, and model Kaja Sokola. All three accused Weinstein of using his power in the entertainment industry to sexually abuse them. Weinstein’s conviction from that trial was overturned in 2024 after an appeals court found that the judge had improperly allowed testimony from women whose allegations were not part of the case being tried.
A second trial – involving Mann and Haley – took place last year. The jury found Weinstein guilty of sexually assaulting Haley, but remained deadlocked on the rape count against Mann, prompting the judge to order a new trial for Mann.
The third and most recent trial involving Mann ended in May 2026 with another deadlocked jury unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
During the third trial, Mann testified that she willingly had some sexual encounters with Weinstein but that he forced her to have unwanted sex in a hotel room in March 2013, despite her repeatedly saying no.
Weinstein’s defence team argued at the time 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.”
Weinstein has not yet been sentenced for the conviction of assaulting Haley, and Bragg said on Thursday prosecutors recommend a 20-year sentence to the court.
In total, Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct, assault and rape by more than 100 women. While not all reports resulted in criminal charges, his conviction in California, resulting in a 16-year prison sentence, means he is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison.
The decision by his accusers to come forward, and his subsequent conviction, galvanised the #MeToo movement against sex abuse by powerful men.
By BBC News
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