Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - The retrial of Harvey Weinstein on a r@pe charge has begun in Manhattan, following the collapse of a previous trial in which jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
Weinstein, 74, is accused of the third-degree r@pe of
Jessica Mann, an actress who appeared in the 2015 film “This Isn’t Funny.” The
earlier trial ended in a mistrial last June after the jury foreperson refused
to continue deliberations amid internal disputes.
The retrial is being overseen by Curtis Farber, with jury
selection now underway and expected to take several days before a panel of 12
jurors is finalised. Weinstein’s spokesperson Juda Engelmayer said ahead of
proceedings: “He is hopeful and expects a fair process where the facts will
vindicate him.”
Despite the retrial, Weinstein will remain behind bars
regardless of the outcome. He is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in
California for a separate r@pe conviction involving a European actress, which
he is appealing, with a hearing scheduled for April 23.
Appearing in court in a wheelchair due to ongoing health
issues, Weinstein looked frail as he was brought before potential jurors. He
wore a dark suit and grey tie and briefly spoke to confirm agreement with a
legal matter before proceedings continued
The case is part of a wider series of legal battles that
followed numerous s3xual ass@ult allegations made public against Weinstein in
2017, which helped ignite the global “MeToo” movement.
In the previous trial, Weinstein was convicted of s3xual
ass@ult against producer Miriam Haley, a verdict he is also appealing. He was
acquitted of s3xual ass@ult allegations involving Polish-born actress Kaja
Sokola.
Judge Farber ruled that Weinstein cannot be cross-examined
about convictions currently under appeal during this retrial. Weinstein has
assembled a new legal team, including Jacob Kaplan and Marc Agnifilo, the
latter known for representing high-profile clients such as Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The former film producer has also raised concerns about his
safety while being held at Rikers Island in New York. In an interview earlier
this year, he said: “I’m constantly threatened and derided. I wouldn’t last
long out there.” He added: “I fell on the floor, bleeding everywhere. I was
hurt really badly,” alleging he had been assaulted while waiting to use a
telephone in the facility.
The retrial is expected to focus on the remaining unresolved
charge involving Mann, as the court determines whether prosecutors can secure a
conviction following the earlier deadlock.
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