New York prosecutors are seeking a third trial for Harvey Weinstein on a sexual assault charge that a jury failed to reach a verdict on earlier this summer. The charge involves actress Jessica Mann, who alleged Weinstein raped her in 2013, a charge that had resulted in a conviction in 2020 before being overturned by an appeals court.
Judge Curtis Farber expressed a desire for the retrial to occur before the end of this year, but prosecutors indicated they would not be ready until 2026. Weinstein's sentencing for a separate conviction in June for assaulting Miriam Haley, scheduled for 30 September, will not proceed until the Mann charge is retried.
Weinstein's spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, criticised the prosecution's efforts, suggesting they aim to pressure Weinstein into a guilty plea. 'At some point this becomes a little too much,' Engelmayer said, adding that the prosecution struggled to make its case last time and will struggle again.
Weinstein, 73, was found guilty in June of assaulting Haley in 2006, but cleared of assaulting a third woman, Kaja Sokola. The jury could not reach a verdict on the Mann charge. Weinstein has consistently denied all allegations, characterising encounters as consensual.
Weinstein remains in custody at Rikers Island jail, with a post-conviction hearing scheduled for Friday where allegations of juror misconduct may be raised. He is also serving a 16-year sentence for a separate rape conviction in Los Angeles, which is under appeal.
