Harvey Weinstein’s NYC rape retrial hit a major hurdle yesterday after the jury foreman refused to return to deliberations, forcing the judge to declare a mistrial on the third-degree rape charge.
The foreman told Judge Curtis Farber that he was afraid to return to the room, claiming that other jurors had tried to bully him into changing his vote. “No, I’m sorry,” he said when asked if he’d continue.
The disgraced Hollywood mogul, accused of sexually assaulting three women in NYC over a decade ago, was convicted Wednesday of one count involving Mimi Haley but acquitted on another related to Kaja Sokola. The rape charge, tied to aspiring actress Jessica Mann, ended in deadlock.
NEW: D.A. Bragg addressed the conviction of Harvey Weinstein for Criminal Sexual Act in the 1st Degree: “It takes immense courage to come forward. And as was clear to everyone in that courtroom for the past several weeks, it takes immense courage to get on the stand and testify.” pic.twitter.com/wzMgU9HY06
— Alvin Bragg (@ManhattanDA) June 12, 2025
“All three women wanted a verdict,” Judge Farber said, noting the rest of the jury didn’t report the same drama the foreman described.
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said his office is ready to retry Weinstein on the rape charge. “Miss Mann deserves that,” Bragg said, praising the women’s bravery: “They were called liars, gold diggers, even abusers, but they stood their ground.”
Weinstein’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, fired back, vowing an appeal and slamming what he called “gross juror misconduct.” Aidala claimed the intimidated foreman and other irregularities taint the verdict: “If that doesn’t cast doubt, I don’t know what would.”
Weinstein still faces serious prison time for the conviction related to Haley.