New York prosecutors have dropped a rape charge against Harvey Weinstein, choosing not to pursue a fourth trial in the case after his accuser indicated she could no longer endure the process.
Jessica Mann, a hairstylist and actor who alleged Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013, submitted a letter to the court stating she "could no longer endure going through this." The decision marks the end of one component of the landmark #MeToo-era prosecution that first exposed systemic sexual misconduct allegations against the former Hollywood producer.
Background
Mann had provided extensive, emotional testimony across three separate trials. One trial produced a conviction that was later overturned on appeal for reasons unrelated to her testimony. Two subsequent retrials ended with hung juries, preventing verdicts.
"I gave my all" in pursuing the case, Mann wrote in her letter, adding that the litigation "put me through more harm than good." She expressed a desire to close this chapter of her life.
The allegation was among the first criminal charges to emerge from the 2017 cascade of sexual misconduct allegations against Weinstein, an Oscar-winning producer who wielded enormous influence in Hollywood. Those accusations helped ignite the #MeToo movement against sexual assault and harassment in the entertainment industry and beyond.
Mann testified that during the early months of what she described as a relationship with Weinstein, he raped her after cornering her in a Manhattan hotel room, grabbing her arms and ignoring her repeated pleas not to engage in intercourse. Weinstein's defense team maintained the encounter was part of a consensual, yearslong relationship between the two.
The Charges
Weinstein has been convicted of sex crimes involving other women in both New York and California, though he has been acquitted of certain charges at trial.
In New York, Weinstein was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting Miriam Haley, a production assistant and producer. Haley testified that Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her after inviting her to his Manhattan apartment before a flight in July 2006. That conviction came during a retrial in 2025 after an earlier verdict was reversed by a state appeals court.
In California, Weinstein was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting an Italian actor-model.
The dismissal of the Mann-related charge does not affect these existing convictions, which involve separate victims. Prosecutors said they believed Mann and were confident in their case but chose to drop it out of respect for her wishes and in light of Weinstein's other convictions.
"The charge should never have been brought in the first place," defense attorneys stated, repeating Weinstein's denial of the allegation.
Weinstein, who has maintained he "never assaulted anyone," is actively challenging both of his convictions through the appeals process. He remains incarcerated while those appeals proceed.
Key Takeaways
- New York prosecutors dropped a rape charge against Harvey Weinstein at the request of accuser Jessica Mann
- Mann had testified in three trials over the same allegation, with one conviction overturned and two retrials ending in hung juries
- The dismissal does not affect Weinstein's existing convictions for sexual assault in New York and California
- Prosecutors are seeking a 20-year sentence at Weinstein's upcoming September sentencing on the Haley conviction
- Weinstein also faces a separate 16-year sentence from his California conviction
- The 74-year-old former film producer is challenging both convictions through appeals while incarcerated
What's Next
Weinstein faces sentencing in September for his New York conviction tied to Haley's assault. Prosecutors are seeking a 20-year prison term on that charge, while defense attorneys indicated they have not yet determined what sentence they will request.
After completing any punishment in the New York case, Weinstein would begin serving his 16-year California sentence. His appeals of both convictions remain ongoing and could ultimately affect his legal status depending on outcomes.
The Associated Press does not identify people who report being sexually assaulted unless they choose to make their names public, as Mann and Haley have done.