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A New York judge declared a mistrial in Harvey Weinstein's rape retrial on Thursday (June 12) after jury deliberations reached an impasse. The jury could not agree on a verdict for the charge of third-degree rape involving accuser Jessica Mann. The mistrial was declared after the jury foreman refused to continue deliberations, citing tensions among jurors.
The jury had previously found Weinstein guilty of a first-degree criminal sexual act against Miriam Haley but not guilty of the same charge against Kaja Sokola. The retrial began in late April, and the jury had been deliberating since June 5. Weinstein's defense team plans to appeal the verdict, citing jury misconduct as a basis.
Despite the mistrial, Weinstein remains incarcerated due to a 16-year sentence from a 2022 rape conviction in Los Angeles. The judge has scheduled a hearing for July 2, with a potential retrial in the fall. Weinstein's legal team continues to argue that his encounters with the accusers were consensual, while the prosecution highlights Weinstein's abuse of power in the entertainment industry.
The case has been a focal point of the #MeToo movement, with over 100 women accusing Weinstein of sexual misconduct. His conviction in New York was previously overturned, leading to the current retrial. Weinstein's spokesperson expressed concerns about jurors having preconceived notions about Weinstein.