New York prosecutors have dropped an outstanding rape charge against disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, marking the fourth time the case has failed to reach a conviction or proceed to trial conclusion.
The decision brings an end to the remaining active rape allegation involving Weinstein in New York, following years of legal battles, mistrials and appeals that have repeatedly reshaped one of the most high-profile sexual assault cases in modern US history.
The case centred on testimony from Jessica Mann, a hair stylist and actor, who accused Weinstein of sexually assaulting her in a hotel room in March 2013. Prosecutors confirmed the decision to discontinue the charge came after discussions with Mann, who expressed that she did not wish to endure another trial.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr said prosecutors still believe Mann’s account and credibility, describing her participation in multiple proceedings over the years as “extraordinarily taxing.” He praised her for her persistence and willingness to testify across several juries and grand jury hearings.
Weinstein’s legal saga has spanned multiple trials. In the first 2020 case, he was convicted based on testimony from Mann, Miriam Haley and Kaja Sokola. However, that conviction was later overturned in 2024 when an appeals court ruled that improper testimony had been allowed during proceedings.
A second trial involving Mann and Haley resulted in a split outcome, with Weinstein found guilty of sexually assaulting Haley but the jury unable to reach a verdict on the rape charge linked to Mann. That deadlock led to calls for a retrial.
A third trial concluded in May 2026, again ending in a hung jury, with jurors unable to agree on a unanimous decision regarding the remaining rape allegation.
During that trial, Mann testified that while some interactions with Weinstein were consensual, she alleged that he forced her into unwanted sexual activity in a hotel room despite her repeated refusals. Weinstein’s defence team consistently maintained that the encounter was consensual.
Following the latest decision to drop the charge, a spokesperson for Weinstein said he was relieved by the outcome, arguing that the case should have been dismissed earlier. His legal representatives also claimed that key communications had not been fully considered during earlier proceedings.
Despite the dropped charge, Weinstein remains convicted on other sexual offences. He has already been found guilty in both New York and California, including a separate sexual felony conviction in California that resulted in a 16-year prison sentence.
Prosecutors in New York have also recommended a 20-year sentence for his remaining conviction related to the assault of Miriam Haley, which is yet to be formally sentenced.
Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct, assault and rape by more than 100 women. While not all allegations resulted in criminal charges, his convictions helped spark the global #MeToo movement, which exposed widespread abuse of power within the entertainment industry.
The movement, which gained momentum following the first wave of allegations against Weinstein, has since reshaped conversations around workplace misconduct, accountability and power dynamics in Hollywood and beyond.
Although this latest dropped charge marks another legal setback for prosecutors, Weinstein continues to face serious consequences for his convictions, with the possibility that he will remain in prison for the rest of his life.
