The jury in Harvey Weinstein's rape trial in New York has deadlocked, prompting Judge Curtis Farber to declare a mistrial after three days of deliberations.
Trial Background
Weinstein, 74, had been tried twice previously on a charge of third-degree rape. Judge Farber has given prosecutors 30 days to decide whether to pursue a fourth trial. Weinstein has been incarcerated since his first rape conviction in 2020, and was convicted last June of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley after an earlier guilty verdict was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals. The jury could not reach a verdict on the charge of third-degree rape of Jessica Mann, leading to the current situation.
Pending Sentencing
Judge Farber is delaying Weinstein's sentencing until the remaining count is resolved. Weinstein could face up to 25 years in prison on the Haley count alone. He was also sentenced in 2023 to 16 years in prison after a rape conviction in Los Angeles, a verdict currently under appeal.
Testimonies and Statements
Mann testified over five days, repeating allegations she had previously made to two other juries. She claimed Weinstein forced her to have sex in a Manhattan hotel room in March 2013. The defense countered by arguing that Mann was in a consensual relationship with Weinstein, citing friendly messages she sent him, such as “Miss you, big guy” and “Appreciate all you do for me.”
Mann issued a statement emphasizing the truth of her testimony, saying, “I deserve justice, which is why I stand up and face unbearable public scrutiny in the name of a greater good—a world where predators are not in power.”
Defense Reaction
Weinstein’s spokesperson stated that the mistrial indicates “significant reasonable doubt” and criticized the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for retrying the same case multiple times. “For some people, regardless of the evidence presented, saying ‘not guilty’ has become emotionally or socially impossible,” the spokesperson said.
Weinstein was acquitted in a previous trial of sexually assaulting Kaja Sokola, and in the Los Angeles case, his attorneys argued against the conviction for raping an Italian model. They claim evidence supporting his alibi was improperly withheld.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/harvey-weinstein-rape-verdict-new-york-1236747523/
