Summary (tl;dr)

A New York jury declared a mistrial in the rape retrial of former film producer Harvey Weinstein, concerning allegations made by Jessica Mann, marking the third time a jury has failed to reach a unanimous verdict on this specific charge.

Essential Background

Harvey Weinstein, once a powerful Hollywood mogul, became a central figure in the #MeToo movement after numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault surfaced in 2017. He was initially convicted in 2020 in New York of some sex crimes, including the rape of Jessica Mann, a hairstylist and actor. However, that 2020 conviction was later overturned on appeal for reasons unrelated to Mann's testimony. A subsequent retrial in 2025 involving multiple accusers also ended in a mistrial for the charge related to Jessica Mann, leading to the current standalone retrial. Weinstein is currently serving a prison sentence for other sex crime convictions in both New York and California.

The Full Story

On Friday, May 15, 2026, a Manhattan jury in Harvey Weinstein's retrial for the alleged 2013 rape of Jessica Mann announced it was deadlocked and unable to reach a unanimous verdict, leading Judge Curtis Farber to declare a mistrial. This marks the second mistrial for the specific third-degree rape charge involving Mann after nearly three weeks of testimony and two days of deliberations. Jessica Mann had testified for a third time, recounting her claims of an unwelcome sexual encounter in a Manhattan hotel room. Weinstein's lawyers maintained that the sexual encounter was consensual. Despite this mistrial, Weinstein, 74, remains incarcerated due to other existing sex crime convictions.

Why It Matters

The mistrial in this high-profile case highlights the persistent challenges within the legal system in prosecuting sexual assault allegations, particularly those stemming from the #MeToo era. While Harvey Weinstein remains imprisoned for other convictions, the inability to secure a unanimous verdict on Jessica Mann's charge leaves a significant New York rape accusation in limbo after three trials. This outcome raises questions about victim accountability and the complexities of consent and credibility that juries face in such cases, underscoring the ongoing public interest and debate surrounding sexual misconduct in powerful industries.

Geographic Location

• Manhattan Criminal Court, Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States (location of the rape retrial and mistrial declaration)
• DoubleTree Hotel, Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States (location of the alleged 2013 rape)