The courtroom doors have reopened for Harvey Weinstein, as jury selection began in his retrial on rape and sexual assault charges in New York. The former Hollywood titan, whose 2020 conviction was overturned last year, now faces a new wave of scrutiny as he stands accused of sexually assaulting multiple women.
Weinstein, 73, known for co-founding the Miramax studio and shaping Hollywood for decades, is charged with one count of rape and two counts of criminal sexual acts. Despite the serious allegations, he has entered a plea of not guilty, maintaining his stance that all encounters were consensual. The case, expected to last six weeks, is being heard in Manhattan’s Superior Court, with Judge Curtis Farber overseeing the proceedings.
On the first day of jury selection, the court saw no jurors chosen. The process will continue Wednesday, as both sides work to select 12 jurors from a pool of local Manhattan residents. A unanimous verdict will be required to convict.
Weinstein’s initial conviction in 2020 marked a significant moment in the #MeToo movement, with the disgraced producer being sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, in April 2024, a state appeals court ruled to annul that conviction, determining that certain testimony from women who had not been part of the charges could have unfairly influenced the jury.
At the center of the new trial are allegations from former production assistant Miriam Haley, who accuses Weinstein of assaulting her in 2006, and aspiring actress Jessica Mann, who claims she was raped by him in 2013. Along with these charges, Weinstein now faces an additional accusation involving an unnamed woman from 2006. Prosecutors have painted a damning portrait of Weinstein as a predatory figure who used his Hollywood influence to manipulate and intimidate women.
Despite the legal battle, Weinstein’s fate may already be sealed. Even if he were acquitted in this trial, his future remains grim. Weinstein was sentenced to 16 years for a separate rape conviction in California, and he has yet to serve time for that sentence, remaining in custody in New York.
Weinstein’s legal troubles, health issues, and the ongoing #MeToo impact have created a complex legacy. His former studio, Miramax, filed for bankruptcy in 2018 following the explosive sexual misconduct allegations, signaling the dramatic downfall of a once-powerful figure in Hollywood.
Attorney Lindsay Goldbrum, representing the new victim, framed the case as a critical moment in the evolving cultural understanding of sexual assault. She emphasized that this trial would test how far society has come since the emergence of the #MeToo movement, particularly in acknowledging power dynamics and survivor narratives.
As Weinstein faces yet another trial, the world is watching not just for the outcome, but for a larger reflection on justice, accountability, and the aftermath of a scandal that reshaped an industry.
