Judge declares a mistrial in Harvey Weinstein’s rape retrial after jury says it is deadlocked

NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Weinstein ‘s rape trial ended in a mistrial Friday after a jury deadlocked in a #MeToo-era trial that was followed closely by another jury. I couldn’t decide last year..

while old king of hollywood While he has been convicted of other sex crimes on both coasts of the US and remains behind bars, a mistrial leaves his New York rape charge in limbo after three trials. Weinstein appeared expressionless as court officials wheeled him out.

Mostly male Manhattan jury weighing whether Weinstein raped Jessica Mannhairdresser and actor. Weinstein’s lawyers argued that the meeting was consensual. It happened during an incident in 2013 problematic relationship between Weinstein, who was married at the time, and Mann, who was decades younger.

Signs of Friday’s deadlock emerged a few hours into the third day of deliberations, when jurors sent a note in the morning saying they had concluded they could not reach a unanimous verdict. Judge Curtis Farber instructed them to continue deliberating; This was a common step when the jury initially said it was deadlocked.

Jurors returned to closed-door deliberations for more than an hour before sending another note with the same message, adding: “We don’t think anyone is going to change where they stand.”

Juror Josh Hadar told reporters that nine people wanted to acquit Weinstein and three wanted to convict him.

Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo called it “a great day for our jury system.”

No immediate decision on fourth trial

A hearing has been scheduled for June 24 to find out whether prosecutors will choose to go to a fourth trial. District Attorney Alvin Bragg said he was disappointed in the outcome but “we have deep respect for the jury system.”

Bragg said his team will consult with Mann about another case and consider what would happen to Weinstein if he is convicted in another case. Mann was not in court when the mistrial was declared.

Weinstein, an Oscar-winning film producer and studio boss, was one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood and major Democratic donor before long-suppressed allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault against him. in the public eye It appeared in 2017. disclosures, #MeToo movement ‘s demands for accountability for sexual misconduct excluded Weinstein, bankrupt studio and ultimately led to criminal charges being filed against him in New York and Los Angeles.

He was convicted of some and acquitted of others. But Mann’s claim remained. It was Weinstein prisoner impeachment in 2020. Then the appeals court he overturned the decisionAnd Jury deliberations broke down At the retrial in 2025. He paved the way for this this year’s retrial.

weinstein he said he was unfaithful to his then-wife and “misbehaved but I never attacked anyone.”

Jury heard from Weinstein accuser

Mann, now 40, met Weinstein at a party in Los Angeles in early 2013. Weinstein hoped to add a handful of acting credits to a major career. It attracted attention and it quickly showed that this was completely unprofessional.

She said that his initial persistent overtures made her uncomfortable, but she agreed to them and decided to develop a relationship with him.

Mann testified that she was staying with a friend at a Manhattan hotel in March 2013, when Weinstein arrived early for a scheduled breakfast and got a room despite her objections. She said she escorted Weinstein into the room to talk and made it clear he didn’t want sex.

“I said ‘no’ over and over and tried to leave,” he told jurors. five days intense testimony.

She said Weinstein stopped her from leaving and grabbed her arms. She told jurors that she stopped protesting because she was afraid, complied with requests to undress and lay down on the bed while he went to the bathroom. Mann later said he raped her.

Mann did not tell anyone about the alleged rape for years. He didn’t mention it either introvert, private writing two days later. In a note to herself, she was struggling with conflicting feelings about being “emotionally committed” in a non-exclusive relationship with a man she did not name.

After Weinstein new lawyers When he confronted Mann with the note, he said he did not need to write down the claim.

The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they choose to reveal their names publicly, as Mann did.

Weinstein defense: Mann was supportive

Weinstein did not testify. Mann was a willing partner in a close, supportive relationship with a showbiz figure who opened doors for him, his lawyers say, but when he became an outcast, Mann turned on him.

In the months and years after the New York encounter, Mann continued to see and communicate with Weinstein.

According to her emails and statements, she withdrew at times to pursue and maintain a relationship with a new boyfriend. At other times, she turned to Weinstein, who confirmed her acting dreams, said he was proud of her, and responded with compassion when her father was terminally ill.

“I love you. Everything you need,” Weinstein wrote.

Over the years, she helped Mann get a movie audition and a hairstyling job – to no avail. He asked her for help with things like car problems and club memberships, but in the summer of 2013 he refused the package his office tried to send because he couldn’t pay rent. Mann said he understood the envelope contained $1,000 in cash.

In one of her last emails to Weinstein, in February 2017, she wrote: “I love you, always have. But I hate feeling like a booty call.” When the man responded by saying he was “joking” and that she should stop using her company email, the woman said it was a joke and apologized.

Eight months later, she saw the news that precipitated his decline and eventually prompted him to go to the police.

Mann never sued Weinstein, but after his conviction in 2020, Weinstein did and received nearly $500,000 from one. sexual abuse resolution fund It was founded during the bankruptcy of his company. The payment was mentioned at last year’s retrial, but the defense did not increase the payment this time after extensive discussions about what could and could not be said.