Harvey Weinstein is awaiting sentencing and a potential retrial in his New York City sex crimes case, but the timing and the prospect of facing another jury remain uncertain. Manhattan Judge Curtis Farber indicated that Weinstein could be sentenced on September 30, provided there is no retrial on a rape charge that the previous jury could not reach a verdict on.
In June, Weinstein, aged 73, was found guilty of forcing oral sex on Miriam Haley, a TV and movie production assistant and producer, in 2006. This conviction carries a maximum sentence of up to 25 years behind bars. However, the jury acquitted him of a similar charge involving Kaja Sokola and could not come to a decision on the accusation of raping hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann in 2013.
Prosecutors informed Farber that they are prepared to pursue a third trial on the rape charge, which carries a potential sentence of up to four years, less than what Weinstein has already served. Mann is willing to testify again in this regard.
The prosecution requested a trial date in January, citing witness availability and their caseload. Farber objected to this timeline, suggesting a fall trial instead, emphasizing the need for a resolution this year. Weinstein’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, concurred, expressing a preference for the earliest feasible trial date.
In the event of a fall trial, it would bring Weinstein’s high-profile #MeToo case back to court as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg nears the end of his re-election campaign. Bragg, who prioritized prosecuting sex crimes, has expressed satisfaction with Weinstein’s conviction in the Haley assault and is determined to retry the Mann rape charge.
Weinstein, donning a blue suit and black-rimmed glasses, sat in court in a wheelchair. His lawyer, Aidala, stated Weinstein’s commitment to contesting the rape charge in another trial, leaving the possibility open for a resolution with prosecutors. The trial date remains unresolved, leaving Weinstein’s potential September 30 sentencing hanging in the balance.
In prior proceedings, Weinstein’s convictions in 2020 were overturned on appeal due to legal issues surrounding other women’s testimony. In the subsequent retrial this spring, he was convicted of sexually assaulting Haley but acquitted in another case. The jury, predominantly female, struggled with the charge related to Mann amidst contentious deliberations.
Mann recounted having a consensual relationship with Weinstein but testified that she resisted his advances before relenting. Weinstein maintains his innocence against all allegations.
If you need support following a sexual assault, crisis lines and local services are accessible through the Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. In emergencies, call 911.