Harvey Weinstein is exploring the possibility of a plea deal with Manhattan prosecutors, his lawyer said during a court hearing on Thursday, as a new trial date was set for the disgraced film producer. Weinstein, who has consistently denied allegations of rape, is facing charges that he raped actress Jessica Mann in 2013.
Speaking in a Manhattan courtroom, defence attorney Arthur Aidala told Judge Curtis Faber that he had spoken with Weinstein and wished to pursue plea negotiations. “My client wants additional time to think about it,” Aidala said, marking a shift in strategy for the 73-year-old, who has previously rejected any such deal. The judge gave Weinstein two weeks to confirm or reject plea talks, with another hearing scheduled for 25 February.
Weinstein, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, repeated his standard denial of the allegations against him. “I know I was unfaithful, I know I acted wrongly, but I never assaulted anyone,” he said, adding: “Your Honor, I’m begging for a second chance.” The former Miramax co-founder has spent nearly six years in prison, despite having his 2020 New York conviction overturned by an appeal court in April 2024.
Judge Faber set a trial start date of 3 March for the rape charge involving Mann, after a previous trial in June 2025 ended in a mixed verdict. In that trial, Weinstein was found guilty of a first-degree criminal sexual act against Miriam Haley, but a mistrial was declared on the Mann charge due to a deadlocked jury. He also faces a separate conviction in Los Angeles from 2022.
During Thursday’s hearing, the judge rejected Weinstein’s claims of juror misconduct, stating in a 25-page order that allegations of one juror being bribed were “childish and unsupported”. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office declined to comment on potential plea negotiations, and Weinstein’s representatives also offered no statement.
