World2 min(s) read
Published 10:25 16 May 2026 GMT
A Manhattan judge has declared a mistrial in Harvey Weinstein’s rape retrial after jurors once again failed to agree on a verdict regarding allegations brought by actor Jessica Mann.
Mann, now 40, testified that while she had willingly engaged in some sexual encounters with Weinstein during their relationship, he later forced himself on her despite her repeatedly saying no.
For the second time in less than a year, the jury was unable to unanimously decide whether the disgraced former movie producer raped Mann in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013.
After two days of deliberations, the seven men and five women on the panel told the court they were deadlocked over the third-degree rape charge against the 74-year-old.
Judge Curtis Farber urged jurors to continue discussing the case, reminding them that “it wasn’t meant to be easy” as he delivered an Allen charge, a legal instruction encouraging jurors to try to reach a consensus.
However, by Friday afternoon, the panel informed the court they remained divided, leading Farber to officially declare a mistrial.
A new hearing has now been scheduled for June 24, when prosecutors will decide whether they plan to pursue a fourth trial.
Weinstein’s legal team has consistently argued that the sexual encounter with Mann was consensual. During the retrial, jurors heard testimony solely related to Mann’s accusations.
Weinstein’s lawyers pointed to the fact that Mann continued communicating with him afterward and at times expressed affection toward him.
Mann has previously explained that her feelings toward Weinstein and the relationship were deeply complicated.
Beginning in 2017, Weinstein was implicated in numerous scandals after dozens of women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct, helping spark the global #MeToo movement. While Weinstein has admitted he “acted wrongly,” he has continued to deny assaulting anyone.
The latest mistrial follows another deadlocked outcome last year, when a jury failed to reach a verdict on the rape charge after the foreperson reportedly refused to continue deliberations due to concerns about his safety.
Despite the mistrial, Weinstein still faces substantial prison time. Earlier this year, jurors convicted him of sexually assaulting former “Project Runway” production assistant Miriam Haley, a charge that carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
Weinstein is also already serving a separate 16-year sentence in California after being convicted in Los Angeles four years ago for raping and sexually assaulting Italian model and actor Evgeniya Chernyshova.
