Well, three strikes and you’re out. Of jail.
Not really. But for a third time the New York Attorney General has been unable to convict Harvey Weinstein of rape.
The latest trial saw a jury deadlocked 9 to 3, to acquit.
A lot of people — the many women who had perilous encounters with Weinstein — will be grievously disappointed. But this has gone on for 9 years. In New York, at least, the end may be here.
In a statement, DA Alvin Bragg’s office wrote even though they have nothing to ‘brag’ about:
“While we are disappointed that the proceedings ended with a mistrial, we deeply respect the jury system and sincerely thank all of the jurors for their time and dedication. For nearly a decade, Jessica Mann has fought for justice. Over the course of many weeks during three separate trials, she relived unthinkably painful experiences in front of complete strangers. Her perseverance and bravery are inspiring to the members of my office, and more importantly, to survivors everywhere. We will consider our next steps in consultation with Ms. Mann, and in consideration of Harvey Weinstein’s pending sentencing following last year’s trial conviction for forcibly sexually assaulting Miriam Haley. As always, we will continue to prosecute crimes of sexual violence – no matter who the defendant is – in a survivor-centered manner that uplifts their voices in the pursuit of justice.”
The defense team countered:
“The defense team of Marc Agnifilo, Teny Geragos, and Jacob Kaplan put on a powerful case. After hearing the evidence multiple times and seeing two juries unable to reach unanimity, it’s clear there is significant reasonable doubt here. What this also shows is how deeply public perception and prejudice surrounding Harvey Weinstein have become embedded in society. For some people, regardless of the evidence presented, saying “not guilty” has become emotionally or socially impossible. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office should stop retrying the same case and focus its time and resources on the actual violent crime, chaos, and public safety issues impacting New Yorkers every day.”
