Harvey Weinstein, once one of Hollywood’s most influential producers, is back in a Manhattan courtroom this week facing a familiar but no less consequential ordeal: a third trial on charges that he raped aspiring actress and hairstylist Jessica Mann in a New York hotel room. The proceedings, which began with jury selection on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, mark the latest chapter in a legal saga that has spanned nearly a decade and helped ignite the global #MeToo movement.
Weinstein, now 74 and using a wheelchair, pleaded not guilty and continues to deny all charges. The former movie mogul’s health has become a recurring theme in his legal battles. Earlier this year, he told the judge overseeing his case that his situation “feels like a slow march to my death,” citing a host of medical issues. In January, he went further, telling the court that his “mental state is collapsing” amid the harsh conditions at New York’s notorious Rikers Island jail, according to the Associated Press.
Jury selection for this retrial has already proven challenging. On the first day alone, more than 80 prospective jurors asked to be excused, citing concerns about the length of the trial and their ability to remain impartial in a case that has captured international attention. About 60 remained for further questioning in the afternoon, as the court sought to assemble a panel capable of setting aside the swirling publicity and controversy that have accompanied every stage of Weinstein’s downfall.
This is the third time a jury has been asked to weigh the same accusation: that Weinstein raped Mann during a weekend getaway in 2013. The first trial, in 2020, ended with a conviction that was later overturned. Last June, a second jury deadlocked on the charge, prompting the judge to order yet another retrial. The repeated proceedings have taken their toll on all involved. Weinstein himself has criticized what he sees as dysfunction among the jurors and “outside pressures” that have “turned the process into something that feels predetermined.”
The retrial is expected to last up to six weeks, though it will be more streamlined than previous proceedings, focusing narrowly on Mann’s accusation rather than the array of allegations aired in earlier trials. The prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorney Candace White, has signaled a possible surprise: they may seek to introduce a new piece of evidence—a remark Weinstein allegedly made to a court officer six years ago, after his 2020 sexual assault conviction (which was later overturned). According to the officer, Weinstein said, “If you had seen these girls, you would have done the exact same thing.” Weinstein’s lawyers have urged Judge Curtis Farber to exclude this statement, with defense attorney Marc Agnifilo arguing that “this sounds far-fetched” and that “it’s just too late” to introduce it now.
The defense team itself is newly configured. Agnifilo took over the case in February 2026, replacing longtime Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala, who stepped aside to focus on appeals and civil matters. Both are prominent New York defense attorneys, but their litigation styles differ—Aidala is known for a folksier approach, while Agnifilo is more buttoned-up. The change comes at a critical juncture, as Weinstein faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison.
Weinstein’s legal troubles began in earnest in 2017, when a cascade of sexual harassment and assault allegations surfaced in the news media. The revelations not only toppled Weinstein from his perch atop the entertainment industry—where he had built his reputation producing hits like Shakespeare in Love, Pulp Fiction, and Chocolat—but also propelled the #MeToo movement into the global spotlight. The movement demanded accountability for sexual misconduct, particularly in the workplace, and Weinstein’s prosecution became a symbol of that reckoning.
He was first criminally charged in New York in 2018, and later in Los Angeles in 2020. His initial New York convictions included the rape of Jessica Mann and forcing oral sex on production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. However, the New York Court of Appeals overturned these convictions, leading to the current retrial. In Los Angeles, Weinstein was convicted of some charges and acquitted on others; he is appealing those verdicts as well.
The legal proceedings have been complicated and, at times, chaotic. During last year’s retrial in New York, Weinstein was convicted of forcing oral sex on Haley but acquitted of forcibly performing oral sex on model-turned-psychotherapist Kaja Sokola. The jury failed to reach a verdict on the rape charge involving Mann, as the foreperson refused to continue deliberating. All three women—Haley, Mann, and Sokola—have agreed to be named publicly, a rare move in sexual assault cases that underscores the high-profile nature of these proceedings.
Mann’s testimony has been consistent across the trials. She described having a consensual, on-and-off relationship with the then-married Weinstein, but said that on the night in question, when he cornered her in a Manhattan hotel room, she protested: “I don’t want to do this.” According to Mann, Weinstein persisted, making advances and demands until she “just gave up.” Weinstein has never testified in his own defense, but his lawyers have maintained that all sexual encounters were consensual and that the women were motivated by career ambitions. The defense claims that Weinstein’s accusers willingly entertained his advances in hopes of furthering their prospects in the entertainment industry—a narrative the women strongly dispute, arguing that Weinstein used his Hollywood power to manipulate and victimize them.
The current rape charge is a lower-level felony, carrying a maximum penalty of four years in prison. Ironically, Weinstein has already served longer than that, having been incarcerated since his initial conviction. Meanwhile, he is still appealing his Los Angeles verdict and the New York conviction involving Haley, which carries a potential sentence of up to 25 years—though no sentencing date has been set.
One subject that stirred controversy in prior proceedings—a claims fund for women who said Weinstein mistreated them—will likely not surface in this trial. Judge Farber stated that the defense team does not intend to raise the issue, streamlining the focus to the core allegation at hand.
Weinstein’s influence and connections once extended well beyond Hollywood. He was a prominent donor to Democratic causes and politicians, a fact that added another layer of scrutiny as his legal troubles unfolded. The downfall of such a powerful figure, and the protracted legal battle that followed, have become a touchstone in debates about accountability, due process, and the limits of public opinion in the justice system.
As the retrial unfolds, observers from across the legal, entertainment, and advocacy worlds are watching closely. The outcome will not only determine Weinstein’s fate, but will also send a message about how the justice system handles high-profile accusations of sexual misconduct in the #MeToo era. With jury selection underway and opening statements on the horizon, the coming weeks promise to be pivotal—not just for Weinstein and his accusers, but for the broader conversation about power, consent, and justice in America.
The courtroom drama continues, but for all parties involved, the stakes remain as high as ever.