- Harvey Weinstein is considering pleading guilty to a third‑degree rape charge tied to Jessica Mann to avoid a third trial.
- Weinstein continues to deny nonconsensual sex, saying he acted wrongly but did not assault anyone.
- A judge denied a motion to dismiss a separate conviction tied to Miriam “Mimi” Haley; sentencing is on hold pending the Mann case.
- A third trial is tentatively scheduled for March 3; Weinstein says prolonged Rikers imprisonment is ‘‘soul‑crushing.’’
H2: Weinstein weighs a guilty plea to avoid third trial
Harvey Weinstein’s legal team told a Manhattan court Thursday that the former Hollywood producer is considering pleading guilty to a third‑degree rape charge tied to an accusation from Jessica Mann. The move, defense attorney Arthur Aidala said, would be aimed at avoiding a third trial on the 2013 allegation that Mann says involved rape at a New York hotel.
Weinstein, appearing before Judge Curtis Farber, maintained that he is not a criminal. “I know I was unfaithful and acted wrongly, but I never assaulted anyone,” he told the judge.
H3: Background on the Mann charge and prior proceedings
The Mann allegation dates to March 2013. Weinstein was convicted in early 2020 on a third‑degree rape charge related to Mann, but that conviction was overturned by a New York appeals court in 2024. A subsequent retrial last year ended without a verdict on that count after the jury failed to reach consensus.
While the Mann charge remains unresolved, a separate jury in the retrial found Weinstein guilty of first‑degree criminal sexual act based on an allegation from Miriam “Mimi” Haley. The jury acquitted him on a second first‑degree criminal sexual act count tied to Kaja Sokola.
H3: Judge denies motion to dismiss Haley conviction
On Thursday, Judge Farber rejected Weinstein’s motion to dismiss the Haley conviction. Defense lawyers had argued the retrial jury was plagued by infighting, bullying and other improper behavior during deliberations. Farber said he found the retrial fair and characterized juror disagreement as part of normal deliberations.
Prosecutor Nicole Blumberg urged the court to move forward with sentencing on the Haley conviction, arguing Haley deserves closure. Farber declined to immediately sentence Weinstein, saying he would wait until the Mann charge was resolved. The judge has tentatively scheduled the next trial to begin March 3.
H4: Weinstein describes jail conditions at Rikers
Weinstein told the court his time at Rikers Island — roughly 19 months, he said — has been devastating. “The weight of justice grows heavier after 19 months at Rikers,” he said, calling his confinement ‘‘soul‑crushing’’ and saying his mental state is deteriorating.
H5: What happens next
If Weinstein accepts a plea to the third‑degree rape charge, it could resolve the Mann allegation without a full trial and may affect timing of sentencing on the Haley conviction. If no plea is reached, the March trial date stands. The court’s next steps will determine whether the Mann case proceeds to trial or is resolved through negotiation.
(Reporting by Adam Reiss and Daniel Arkin.)
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