New York prosecutors have dropped a rape charge against former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, opting not to pursue a fourth trial in a case that stemmed from allegations made by Jessica Mann. Mann, a hairstylist and actor, had accused Weinstein of raping her in a New York hotel room in 2013.
Mann supported the prosecution's decision, stating in a letter to the court that she "could no longer endure going through this" and that the case had caused her "more harm than good." She had previously provided extensive testimony across three trials, one of which resulted in a conviction that was later overturned on grounds unrelated to her testimony, followed by two retrials that ended with hung juries.
Prosecutors indicated they believed Mann's account and were confident in their case. However, they decided to drop the charge based on her wishes and Weinstein's existing convictions for other sex crimes in New York and California.
Weinstein, 74, denies the allegations, with his legal team asserting the encounter was part of a consensual relationship. Mann testified that Weinstein raped her after cornering her in a Manhattan hotel room early in their relationship, ignoring her pleas to stop.
Mann's allegation was among a wave of sexual misconduct accusations against Weinstein that surfaced in 2017, significantly fueling the #MeToo movement. While some charges led to convictions and others to acquittals, the dismissal of the Mann-related case does not impact his other criminal convictions.
Weinstein is currently incarcerated and is appealing his convictions. He was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting an actor-model in Los Angeles and of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley, a production assistant and producer, in New York. In September, Weinstein faces sentencing in New York for the conviction tied to Haley, following a retrial after an earlier conviction was reversed. Prosecutors are seeking a 20-year sentence for this conviction.
Following any sentence in New York, Weinstein is slated to serve a 16-year sentence in California related to his conviction there. The Associated Press typically does not identify individuals who report sexual assault unless they choose to go public, as Mann and Haley have done.