Harvey Weinstein's third New York rape trial begins with opening statements

Weinstein is facing a charge of third-degree rape, stemming from allegations that he assaulted Jessica Mann in 2013

Harvey Weinstein has returned to a Manhattan courtroom as opening statements began in his third New York rape trial, marking another chapter in one of the most consequential cases of the #MeToo era.

According to Reuters, the 74-year-old former Hollywood producer is facing a charge of third-degree rape, stemming from allegations that he assaulted aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and continues to deny all allegations of non-consensual sex, with his legal team maintaining that the encounters were consensual.

The trial follows a complex legal history. Weinstein was initially convicted in New York in 2020 and sentenced to 23 years in prison, but that conviction was later overturned by the state’s highest court.

A retrial in 2025 resulted in a conviction for sexually abusing former production assistant Miriam Haley, but the jury failed to reach a verdict on the rape charge involving Mann, leading to a mistrial and setting the stage for the current proceedings.

Opening statements come after several days of jury selection, which resulted in a panel of seven men and five women who will now decide the case.

Prosecutors argue that Weinstein used his power and influence in Hollywood to exploit and abuse women, while his defense contends that the accusations stem from consensual relationships that did not lead to the careers his accusers hoped for.

The trial is expected to last several weeks and could again have major implications for Weinstein, who is already serving a 16-year prison sentence following a separate 2022 rape conviction in California, which he is appealing.

As the proceedings unfold, the case continues to be closely watched as a defining moment in the ongoing legal legacy of the #MeToo movement.