A federal judge in New York has declared a mistrial in the latest sexual assault trial of disgraced former Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein, after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the charges brought by accuser Jessica Mann. This outcome marks the third time proceedings against Weinstein over Mann’s allegations have collapsed, leaving the case unresolved. Now 74, Weinstein has already been convicted in two other separate sexual assault cases, meaning he will remain in custody regardless of this trial’s conclusion. The disgraced studio executive, whose decades-long pattern of alleged abuse sparked the global reckoning of the MeToo movement, is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence stemming from a 2022 California conviction for raping a European actress more than a decade ago. He is also appealing that conviction, alongside a June 2024 New York conviction for sexual assault against former film producer Miriam Haley. The first guilty verdict against Weinstein for Mann’s allegations, returned in 2020, was later thrown out over improper witness handling. A 2025 retrial ended in a mistrial after a bitter conflict among jury members, making this week’s outcome the second consecutive mistrial in the case. During the latest proceedings, Mann, now 40, recounted her first encounter with Weinstein at a 2013 industry party, when she was a 27-year-old aspiring actress and he was one of the most influential powerbrokers in Hollywood. She told the jury that Weinstein positioned himself as a potential mentor, showering her with flattering compliments — even saying she was prettier than A-list star Natalie Portman — and investing in her career by buying her acting textbooks. To the young, emerging actress, this attention initially felt like a once-in-a-lifetime miracle, she said. Mann’s testimony was deeply emotional, with frequent pauses as her voice cracked under the weight of recounting the alleged assault. Her account largely aligned with the testimony she gave in the two previous trials. In a post-declaration statement, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg acknowledged the disappointment of the mistrial outcome, while reaffirming respect for the jury system. “While we are disappointed that the proceedings ended with a mistrial, we deeply respect the jury system and sincerely thank all of the jurors for their time and dedication,” Bragg said. “For nearly a decade, Jessica Mann has fought for justice.” The 2017 exposure of dozens of sexual misconduct allegations against Weinstein, published in groundbreaking investigations by *The New York Times* and *The New Yorker*, ignited a watershed global movement centered on holding powerful perpetrators of sexual harassment and assault accountable. More than 80 women came forward with accusations against Weinstein, and the reporting triggered the MeToo movement that has reshaped workplaces and cultural attitudes around the world.
Judge declares mistrial in Weinstein case as jury fails to reach verdict
