Weinstein Accuser Details Assault in New York Court \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Jessica Mann, the final accuser in Harvey Weinstein’s sex crimes retrial, testified Monday that their consensual relationship turned into sexual assault. Mann described a complex emotional dynamic with the former producer, including alleged coercion and rape. Weinstein, 73, pleads not guilty and denies ever assaulting anyone.
Quick Looks
- Final Accuser Testifies: Jessica Mann gave emotional testimony in Weinstein’s New York retrial.
- Alleged Rape in 2013: Mann says Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel.
- Complex Relationship: Describes mix of coercion, fear, and reluctant consent.
- Emails Presented in Court: Jurors saw messages showing continued communication.
- Fear of Retaliation: Mann said she didn’t report the assault due to Weinstein’s power.
- Weinstein Silent in Court: Listened quietly, occasionally conferring with lawyers.
- Defense Claims Consensual Ties: Weinstein’s team argues it was a mutual relationship.
- Retrial Ordered: A previous conviction was overturned due to trial errors.
Deep Look
In a pivotal moment in the Harvey Weinstein sex crimes retrial, Jessica Mann, a former aspiring actress, took the stand Monday to recount a harrowing and emotionally complex experience involving the once-powerful Hollywood producer. Mann, now 39, is the final accuser expected to testify in the retrial and one whose relationship with Weinstein blurs the lines between coercion, fear, and fleeting moments of trust.
Her testimony came as the 73-year-old Weinstein faces new proceedings after his 2020 New York conviction was overturned by an appeals court citing judicial errors and improper testimony. He is now being retried on charges of rape and sexual assault related to three separate accusers, including Mann.
“The Monster Side Would Come Out”
Mann described an early relationship with Weinstein that began at a party in Los Angeles in late 2012 or early 2013. She had just moved to L.A. to pursue acting, and said Weinstein showed an interest in her ambitions. Their initial meetings, she said, were a mix of professional conversations and unwanted boundary violations, including an uncomfortable request for a massage that she reluctantly fulfilled.
Although she initially rejected Weinstein’s sexual advances, Mann said she later gave in to one encounter after Weinstein allegedly told her she couldn’t leave unless she allowed him to “do something.” That “something,” she said, was unwanted oral sex. She said she felt confused and violated, but feared the potential consequences of alienating a man who controlled access to movie roles.
“He validated me so much,” she said. “But when he was told no, the monster side would come out.”
Alleged Rape at Manhattan Hotel
According to Mann, the most traumatic incident occurred in March 2013, during a trip to New York. After she and a friend made plans to meet Weinstein for breakfast, the producer allegedly showed up early and insisted on getting a room at her hotel—despite her protests.
Sobbing on the witness stand, Mann recalled how Weinstein followed her to her room, shut the door as she tried to leave, and demanded she undress.
“I just gave up,” she testified, stating that he raped her after appearing to inject himself with an erection-enhancing drug she later discovered in the trash.
Mann never reported the alleged assault at the time. She explained to the jury that she feared no one would believe her, and worried about retaliation from Weinstein, who wielded considerable influence across the entertainment industry.
Emails and Mixed Messaging
In court, prosecutors presented a series of emails exchanged between Mann and Weinstein in the months after the alleged assault. The messages showed Mann thanking him for his support, sending her new phone number, and inquiring about potential film roles. She also asked if he’d be in town for her birthday.
Mann explained that these messages were part of a survival strategy, meant to “keep the peace” while she maintained emotional and physical distance. She said she compartmentalized her trauma and continued the relationship in hopes that a consensual dynamic might make it less painful.
In one instance, Mann refused a package from Weinstein’s office, which she said contained cash. Despite being financially unstable, she testified: “I wasn’t for sale.”
Defense Yet to Cross-Examine
Weinstein’s attorneys have not yet cross-examined Mann. In opening statements, lead defense attorney Arthur Aidala portrayed the relationship as consensual and transactional, claiming Mann was leveraging their connection to “cut the line” in Hollywood.
The defense is expected to focus on the continued communication between the two, hoping to cast doubt on Mann’s credibility and highlight what they argue was a mutually beneficial relationship.
A Retrial in the Shadow of #MeToo
Weinstein, once one of the most influential figures in American film, became a central figure in the #MeToo movement following a series of investigative reports in 2017. The cascade of allegations against him helped expose widespread sexual abuse in powerful industries and galvanized a global reckoning.
Though he has already been convicted of sex crimes in both New York and California, the New York conviction was overturned in April 2024. This retrial offers victims another opportunity to be heard, while the defense fights to prevent what it claims is an unfair legal process influenced by public opinion.
Weinstein maintains his innocence on all charges and says all relationships were consensual.
The trial continues, with more witness testimony and cross-examination expected later this week.
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