> At a Glance
> – Harvey Weinstein may plead guilty to third-degree rape to avoid a third trial
> – The charge relates to Jessica Mann’s 2013 allegation
> – Judge set March 3 for potential retrial
> – Why it matters: Decision could end years of courtroom battles and finally resolve the high-profile case
Harvey Weinstein told a Manhattan judge he is weighing a guilty plea on a single third-degree rape count, a move that would spare him from a fresh trial and years more behind bars.
Proposed Plea
Defense lawyer Arthur Aidala said Weinstein is considering admitting guilt on the charge linked to Jessica Mann‘s 2013 hotel allegation. Weinstein still denies any non-consensual sex, telling Judge Curtis Farber:
> “I know I was unfaithful and acted wrongly, but I never assaulted anyone.”
The ex-producer was first convicted of raping Mann in 2020, but an appeals court overturned that verdict in 2024. A retrial ended in a hung jury on the Mann count.
Mixed Verdicts
While the jury deadlocked on Mann, it convicted Weinstein of a first-degree criminal sexual act against Miriam Haley, a “Project Runway” assistant, stemming from a 2006 incident. He was acquitted on a similar charge brought by Polish model Kaja Sokola.
Next Court Steps
Farber refused to toss the Haley conviction, rejecting claims of juror infighting. Prosecutor Nicole Blumberg urged immediate sentencing so Haley “deserves closure,” but the judge will wait until the Mann matter is settled.
Weinstein, held at Rikers Island for 19 months, said:
> “The weight of justice grows heavier… It is soul-crushing. It is a death sentence.”
Farber replied that the second trial was fair and jury deliberations were normal.
Key Takeaways
- A plea would resolve the Mann charge and end the looming March 3 trial
- Weinstein remains convicted on the Haley count; sentencing is on hold
- The ruling keeps the ex-mogul in custody while both sides weigh their next moves
A plea deal could finally close one chapter of the legal saga, though the Haley conviction still carries potential prison time.
