Harvey Weinstein’s New York rape case dropped after accuser says she can’t stand a 4th charge

WARNING: This article contains information about abuse and may concern those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone who has.

Harvey Weinstein avoided a fourth rape trial in New York after his accuser said he could not testify again, prompting prosecutors to drop the #MeToo-era case on Thursday.

The movie star has been convicted of another sexual assault charge in New York and others in California, and is still in prison. But the New York rape case remains unsolved after a two-judge case was dismissed. A judge formally dismissed the case on Thursday.

Weinstein was neutral as court officials wheeled him out of the courtroom. The Oscar-winning producer denies all these allegations.

The rape case related to allegations that he raped hairdresser and actress Jessica Mann in a Manhattan hotel in 2013. Mann testified that she had an on-and-off relationship with Weinstein, who was married at the time.

But he told jurors he repeatedly tried to leave and said no to any sexual activity as he cornered her in a hotel room. He said he was patient, told her to undress and held her by the arms, until she was afraid to continue protesting.

“After much thought and consideration, I have chosen not to proceed with the fourth trial against Harvey Weinstein,” Mann wrote in a letter the prosecutor read to the court. “It was clear to me in this last case that I couldn’t bear to deal with this anymore.”

The trial featured Mann, 40, who testified for five days and was questioned for the first time about a heartbreaking diary-like document he wrote two days after the alleged rape, and a blank piece of paper. At one point during his testimony, Mann said he had trouble concentrating, which caused the court to adjourn early for the day.

Prosecutor Nicole Blumberg said Thursday that prosecutors believed Mann and praised her “bravery, strength, courage and inspiration” to other survivors, but given her feelings on the continuance, “dismissal is warranted.”

The 74-year-old Weinstein, meanwhile, reported chest pains during jury deliberations in the latest case, which led to another deadlock in court.

“The demands of justice would never have been the delivery of this case,” said defense attorney Jacob Kaplan.

The fall of Weinstein

Weinstein was one of the most powerful people in the movie industry, a producer of such tastemakers and hits as Shakespeare in love, Pulp Fiction again Chocolate.

Then a series of sexual harassment allegations against him surfaced in 2017, fueling the #MeToo campaign for accountability and ultimately leading to criminal charges.

Weinstein was convicted in 2020 of raping Mann. The appeals court later overturned that decision for reasons unrelated to his testimony. Jury deliberations broke down for a 2025 retrial, and the jury deadlocked in another case this spring.

The rape charge in the case was a misdemeanor punishable by four years in prison – less time than Weinstein served. He is facing much longer sentences for his various crimes in New York and California, including raping an Italian actress in Los Angeles.

Weinstein did not testify at any of the trials, although he complained during and after the retrial in New York in 2025 that it was unfair; the judge refused.

His lawyers maintained that all of his accusers, who were trying to get into show business, had sex contracts that were fully agreed to by a movie studio executive who could help them. Weinstein himself said “he did it wrong, but I never hit anybody.”

The Associated Press does not respect people who say they have been sexually assaulted, unless they choose to remain anonymous, as Mann did.

If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. For support in your area, you can check crisis lines and local services by using Completes the database of the Canadian Sexual Violence Association. .