NEW YORK (AP) — Opening statements are set for Tuesday in Harvey Weinstein’s New York rape retrial, offering a new jury its first look at a pivotal #MeToo case that remains unresolved nearly eight years after the former movie tycoon’s arrest.
Since Weinstein became a major target of the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct nearly a decade ago, he has been convicted of some sexual assault charges and acquitted of others in trials on two U.S. coasts. However, the rape charge involving a 2013 encounter in a Manhattan hotel has lingered due to an overturned conviction followed by a jury deadlock.
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies ever having nonconsensual sex. He claimed in court earlier this year that while he was unfaithful to his then-wife and “acted wrongly, but I never assaulted anyone.”
The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, was selected after extensive questioning about their familiarity with Weinstein and their ability to remain impartial. This new panel contrasts with Weinstein's last New York jury, which was majority-female, while the previous was predominantly male.
Now a 73-year-old prison inmate, Weinstein was once one of Hollywood's most powerful figures, recognized for his role in producing acclaimed films such as “Pulp Fiction” and “Shakespeare in Love.” His career collapsed in 2017 amidst waves of sexual misconduct allegations that triggered criminal charges in New York and Los Angeles.
The accuser in this retrial, Jessica Mann, was a hairstylist who described her involvements with Weinstein as complicated and ambivalent, recounting an encounter where she felt compelled to comply with his advances in a hotel room despite her protests.
Weinstein's new legal team is expected to adopt a different approach during this retrial, which is projected to take up to four weeks. The case continues to captivate public interest and reflect on ongoing discussions about power dynamics and accountability in Hollywood.
