Weinstein Trial Ends in Mistrial

Harvey Weinstein’s third trial for sex crimes concluded in a mistrial in Manhattan after the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict regarding the alleged rape of actress Jessica Mann in 2013.

Justice Curtis Farber declared the mistrial shortly after 1 p.m., marking the second instance where the jury was unable to agree on Mann’s accusations.

This trial, Weinstein’s third, focused on claims that he raped Mann at the DoubleTree Hotel in Midtown on March 18, 2013. Mann took the stand for five days during the four-week proceedings.

Now 40, Mann became emotional several times while recounting her experiences, facing her alleged abuser for the third time after a previous retrial failed to convict him last year.

“I kept saying ‘no’ and trying to walk away,” Mann tearfully recounted, demonstrating to jurors how Weinstein allegedly held her wrists above her head during the incident.

During her testimony, Mann noted that they initially had a consensual relationship, hoping it might evolve into something more meaningful. Yet, she acknowledged her awareness of Weinstein’s considerable power in Hollywood and how it influenced her decisions.

She described Weinstein as someone who could switch from being caring to throwing tantrums when upset. “A capricious kid can go from being a caring person to someone who throws a tantrum when things don’t go his way,” she remarked.

Mann highlighted how Weinstein flaunted his influence, implying that budding actors and directors could jeopardize their careers if they crossed him. “Basically, his friends go far, but his enemies don’t set foot in this town,” she mentioned.

Mann also recalled Weinstein telling her about having an “open relationship” with his then-wife, Georgina Chapman, when they began dating.

In her testimony, Mann stated that Weinstein allegedly assaulted her at a hotel in Los Angeles later in 2013, though he has not faced charges for that incident.

Weinstein’s attorney, Tenny Geragos, subjected Mann to intense cross-examination, often questioning her relationship with Weinstein and focusing on a love note she wrote two days after the alleged assault in New York City.

Mann reflected on her feelings in the note, wondering, “Do I love him or do I love his ideas? It’s easy with him. The idea of expanding on that is fulfilling,” despite having reported the sexual assault just days earlier.

While Mann expressed feeling “emotionally attached” and wanting a loving romance, Weinstein’s defense pointed out the absence of any mention of rape in her statements.

As the prosecution wrapped up, Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg urged the jury to consider how Weinstein’s power enabled his manipulation. She emphasized that Mann, an aspiring actress, became a victim of that power dynamic.

“She missed the red flags. She missed the manipulation, the power, the control. She initially justified the unwanted sex in her own mind,” Blumberg explained to the jurors.

In his defense, lawyer Mark Agnifilo tried to undermine Mann’s credibility by highlighting her mental state at the time, claiming she had lied while testifying.

Weinstein is currently awaiting sentencing in 2025, following a jury’s conviction for first-degree criminal sexual conduct in another case involving Miriam “Mimi” Haley, a former television production assistant.