Manhattan prosecutors on Thursday moved to drop a third-degree rape charge against Harvey Weinstein after the woman accusing the disgraced movie mogul of assaulting her said she did not want to testify in what would have been a fourth trial.
Background of the Case
Weinstein's third trial in New York state court over an allegation that he raped aspiring actress Jessica Mann ended in a mistrial in May after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Mann accused Weinstein of raping her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 while Mann resisted and repeatedly said: “No.”
Weinstein, 74, had pleaded not guilty to one count of third-degree rape and has denied assaulting anyone or having non-consensual sex. A representative on Thursday said Weinstein was relieved by the outcome and believed the charge never should have been brought.
Prosecutors' Decision
The office of the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, said on Thursday that testifying before two grand juries and three trial juries had been an “extraordinarily taxing ordeal” for Mann and that she did not wish to take the stand again. Bragg's office also said it asked the court to sentence Weinstein to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting one-time production assistant Miriam Haley.
Weinstein was convicted of raping Mann and assaulting Haley at his first trial in New York in 2020, but the state’s highest court overturned the conviction after concluding that he did not get a fair trial. Weinstein, a former film producer and co-founder of the Miramax studio, has remained behind bars since his conviction was overturned because of his conviction in another case.
Broader Context
More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment or misconduct, allegations Weinstein denies. The decision to drop the charge marks a significant development in the long-running legal saga surrounding the former Hollywood producer.
