New York prosecutors drop rape charge against Harvey Weinstein after accuser withdraws

After three failed attempts, New York prosecutors have dropped the rape charge against former film mogul Harvey Weinstein because accuser Jessica Mann can no longer continue.

New York prosecutors drop rape charge against Harvey Weinstein after accuser withdraws

New York prosecutors have dropped the rape charge against former film mogul Harvey Weinstein after his accuser, former actress Jessica Mann, said she could no longer endure another trial.

"It has become clear to me during this last trial that I cannot bear to go through this again," Mann wrote in a letter that was read in court on Thursday, according to Bild.

Mann had accused Weinstein of raping her 13 years ago while the two were in a consensual relationship. She first went to court in 2020, and after a lengthy trial, Weinstein was found guilty. However, that conviction was overturned due to procedural errors.

The case was retried in 2025, but the jury failed to reach a verdict. In a third attempt, the jury again could not agree on a verdict after days of deliberation in May 2026.

The most recent trial took a visible toll on the 40-year-old. Over five days, she testified about how her consensual but complicated relationship with Weinstein had turned into a rape. At one point, Mann stated she was having difficulty concentrating, prompting the court to end proceedings for that day.

Weinstein's lawyers argued that the sexual encounters between the two had been consensual.

Weinstein was once one of Hollywood's most powerful producers. After media reports in 2017 revealed allegations of sexual misconduct against him, he became the face of the #MeToo scandal. Since then, more than 100 women have publicly raised accusations of sexual misconduct against him.

In 2023, Weinstein was convicted in California and sentenced to 16 years in prison for rape and sexual assault. He is currently incarcerated on Rikers Island in New York.

Source: BILD