New Trial Denied As Harvey Weinstein Considers Guilty Plea In Separate Rape Case

Harvey Weinstein was back in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday morning to assess where he stands in his legal battles as another trial looms on charges of third-degree rape.

The charge stems from an allegation made by Jessica Mann, a former aspiring actress, who claimed Weinstein raped her at a New York hotel in March 2013. Weinstein has denied that claim.

Weinstein’s lawyer Arthur Aidala told Judge Curtis Farber that the 73-year-old is considering pleading guilty to that rape charge to avoid another trial, reports NBC News. The trial would begin on March 3 if Weinstein can’t reach a plea deal, and Mann would likely testify against the disgraced Hollywood mogul again.

“I understand that your client wants additional time to think about it,” Farber told Weinstein’s lawyer in the courtroom Thursday.

At the end of the hearing, Weinstein, who appeared frail in a wheelchair, spoke directly to the judge, admitting no wrongdoing. “I admit my moral failings, I was unfaithful and acted wrongly,” Weinstein said. “But I have never assaulted anyone.”

Weinstein was found guilty of third-degree rape of Mann in early 2020, but that ruling was overturned in 2024 by a New York state appeals court. Weinstein was then retried on the same case last year, but the jury failed to reach a verdict.

However, the jury did find Weinstein guilty of a first-degree criminal sexual act based on the claims made by a production assistant on the Weinstein-produced “Project Runway.” Miriam Haley said Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her in 2006.

The mogul was acquitted of criminal sexual assault against former model Kaja Sokola.

Judge Farber threw out Weinstein’s request for a new trial in the Haley case after the defense claimed two jurors said they were pressured to convict Weinstein. The judge said, “The Court’s response to the jurors’ complaints appropriately balanced the competing interests of investigating the allegations while avoiding any unnecessary taint of the deliberating jury,” per ABC News.

Thursday’s appearance addressed Weinstein’s web of cases. Now, he will remain in custody at Rikers Island in New York City as he weighs his options regarding entering a guilty plea to the rape charges involving Mann.

Related: Deadlocked Jury Throws Harvey Weinstein Retrial Into Chaos After Partial Verdict