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Weinstein Rape Charge Dropped as Victim Declines Testify

6/25/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Manhattan district attorney’s office dropped the rape charge after the alleged victim declined to testify, citing a desire to heal.
The charge was dismissed during film producer Harvey Weinstein’s fourth criminal trial in New York.
A May 2024 mistrial left the jury deadlocked on the rape count, marking a verdict in the case.
Weinstein remains incarcerated while awaiting sentencing on a sexual act conviction that carries a 25-year term.

History

Historical Context

Bill Clinton signed the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, allocating $1.6 billion for shelters, legal aid and the new Office on Violence Against Women. The law’s emphasis on victim testimony underpins the New York District Attorney’s recent dismissal of a rape charge against Harvey Weinstein, highlighting ongoing disputes over prosecutorial discretion and the Act’s unfinished reauthorizations.

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Story summary

The Manhattan district attorney’s office dropped the rape charge after the alleged victim declined to testify, citing a desire to heal.
The charge was dismissed during film producer Harvey Weinstein’s fourth criminal trial in New York.
A May 2024 mistrial left the jury deadlocked on the rape count, marking a verdict in the case.
Weinstein remains incarcerated while awaiting sentencing on a sexual act conviction that carries a 25-year term.

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