NEW YORK PROSECUTORS DROP RAPE CHARGE AGAINST HARVEY WEINSTEIN

Manhattan prosecutors moved on Thursday to drop a third-degree rape charge against Harvey Weinstein after the accuser declined to testify in what would have been a fourth trial. The woman, identified as Jessica Mann, said she did not wish to take the stand again following a mistrial in May when jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict. The Manhattan district attorney's office cited Mann's "extraordinarily taxing ordeal" after testifying before two grand juries and three trial juries. A representative for Weinstein stated he was relieved by the outcome and believed the charge should never have been brought.

Mann had accused Weinstein of raping her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 whilst she resisted and repeatedly said no. Weinstein, 74, pleaded not guilty to the charge and has consistently denied assaulting anyone or engaging in non-consensual sexual contact. Weinstein was originally convicted of raping Mann and assaulting production assistant Miriam Haley at his first trial in New York in 2020. The state's highest court overturned that conviction after determining Weinstein had not received a fair trial.

The Manhattan district attorney's office separately asked the court to sentence Weinstein to 20 years in prison for the sexual assault of Miriam Haley. Weinstein, a former film producer and co-founder of Miramax studio, remains in custody due to a conviction in another case. More than 80 women have made accusations of sexual harassment or misconduct against Weinstein, allegations he denies.