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A New York judge has declared a mistrial on a rape charge against Harvey Weinstein, ending a turbulent two-month retrial marked by heated jury discord and renewed public scrutiny. This comes after a partial verdict on Wednesday, where jurors convicted Weinstein of a first-degree criminal sexual act against former production assistant Miriam Haley and acquitted him on a similar charge involving actress Kaja Sokola.
The deadlock arose over a third-degree rape charge involving aspiring actress Jessica Mann. On Thursday morning, the jury foreperson informed Justice Curtis Farber that he was unwilling to continue deliberations, citing verbal threats and pressure from fellow jurors. Farber, acknowledging the intensity of the deliberations, dismissed the panel and scheduled a hearing for July 2.
"The jury was not able to reach a conclusion as to Ms. Mann, and she deserves that," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated during a press conference, confirming plans to retry Weinstein. Bragg commended the accusers for their resilience, saying, "They stood their ground, and for that I am extremely grateful."
Weinstein, 73, maintains his innocence, with his attorney Arthur Aidala alleging "gross juror misconduct." Aidala cited jurors' exposure to outside information and described the foreperson—a man in his 30s—as "intimidated" and "afraid to return to deliberations."
The contentious deliberations surfaced publicly throughout the week. Jurors voiced misconduct concerns, and at least three sought private discussions with the judge. One juror claimed to have overheard unauthorized conversations about the case, including reference to Weinstein's past—material not admitted at trial. By Monday, tensions had escalated to direct verbal confrontations within the jury room.
Jessica Mann, the woman at the center of the unresolved charge, expressed determination following the mistrial. "Today is not the end of my fight," she declared in a statement. "I am ready, willing, and able to endure this as many times as it takes."
Weinstein is concurrently appealing his 2022 California conviction, where he was sentenced to 16 years, and a prior 23-year sentence in New York overturned in 2023. The retrial marked the third time he faced a New York jury.
Despite the mistrial, some see reason for hope. "When you take a difficult case to trial, you might lose, but you also might win," said Jane Manning, a lawyer and rape survivor advocate. "These prosecutors gave their all."
