New York prosecutors drop Harvey Weinstein rape charges, closing #MeToo case | Today’s news
Prosecutors in New York said on Thursday (June 25th) they will no longer prosecute former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein on rape charges, ending efforts for his fourth trial in the landmark case of the #MeToo era.
The decision brings closure to the final pending indictment in New York after years of legal battles, new trials and deadlocked juries.
Plaintiffs will waive the retrial
The allegation stemmed from allegations by hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann, who accused Weinstein of raping her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013.
Weinstein was convicted on the charges in 2020, but that conviction was later overturned by an appeals court on procedural grounds unrelated to Mann’s testimony.
Subsequent retrials failed to produce a verdict, and juries deadlocked both in 2025 and this year.
Plaintiffs have now decided not to pursue further retrial.
Weinstein remains behind bars
Despite the rape charges being dismissed, Weinstein remains incarcerated.
He remains convicted of various sexual-assault charges in New York and California that carry significantly longer prison terms than the rape count prosecutors dropped.
The rape charge itself was a lower-level felony, carrying up to four years in prison — less time than Weinstein had already served.
Jessica Mann’s allegations
Mann testified that she had a consensual relationship with Weinstein, but said the encounter at the center of the case was non-consensual.
According to her testimony, Weinstein cornered her in a hotel room, ignored her objections and forced himself on her despite repeated attempts to resist.
During the latest retrial, Mann spent five days on the witness stand and faced extensive questioning, including about personal notes she wrote shortly after the alleged incident.
The proceedings appeared to be emotionally taxing, with court proceedings ending early at least once after Mann said she was struggling to focus.
Weinstein continues to deny the allegations
Weinstein has denied all allegations of sexual assault.
His legal team argued that all encounters with his accusers were consensual and that the relationships involved women seeking opportunities in the entertainment industry.
The former producer claims: “I acted badly, but I never attacked anyone.”
Weinstein did not testify during any of the New York trials, although he has publicly criticized the proceedings, claiming he was treated unfairly.
A central figure in the #MeToo movement
Weinstein, once one of the most influential producers in Hollywood, was behind acclaimed films including Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love and Chocolate.
His downfall began in 2017 when a number of women publicly accused him of sexual abuse, helping to fuel the global #MeToo movement and prompting widespread scrutiny of abuse and harassment in the entertainment industry.