NEW YORK — Jessica Mann thought her courtroom ordeal was behind her when Harvey Weinstein was convicted in 2020.
The accuser had endured three grueling days on the witness stand, detailing allegations that the former Hollywood producer raped her while explaining the complex relationship that followed. Her emotional testimony, which included moments of sobbing so intense that proceedings had to be halted early, helped secure a conviction that marked a major milestone for the #MeToo movement.
But on Monday, six years after first coming forward, Mann found herself walking past Weinstein in a New York courtroom once again, preparing to tell her story to yet another jury.
Mann described meeting Weinstein at a friend’s engagement celebration in early 2013. She recalled he was dressed in formal wear and appeared cheerful, prompting her to approach and introduce herself.
At the time, Mann was pursuing an acting career while living in Los Angeles, she told the court. During their second encounter that same evening, she testified that Weinstein spoke extensively about his film industry success and talent for identifying promising performers.
“He said I was really pretty, prettier than Natalie Portman,” Mann recounted, repeating testimony from previous trials. She explained that she provided her contact information, believing the interaction would lead to career opportunities rather than a personal relationship.
“He was interested in my look. I thought I just got discovered,” she stated.
Weinstein, who maintains his innocence regarding all sexual assault allegations, observed from his wheelchair at the defense table while Mann spoke. He periodically conferred with his attorney during her testimony. Mann avoided eye contact with Weinstein except when asked to identify him in the courtroom.
Mann’s allegations of a 2013 sexual assault at a Manhattan hotel are being heard again due to a complex series of legal developments. Weinstein’s initial conviction was reversed on procedural grounds unrelated to Mann’s testimony. A subsequent retrial involving multiple accusers ended with jurors unable to reach a decision on Mann’s case, leaving only her rape charge to be heard again.
“I am ready, willing and able to endure this as many times as it takes for justice and accountability to be served,” Mann declared in a previous statement.
That resolve is now being put to the test once more.
Mann faces potentially days of examination from both prosecutors and Weinstein’s new defense team. Similar to previous legal representatives, they have characterized Mann as an ambitious aspiring actress who willingly engaged with a powerful industry figure, had consensual intimate relations, benefited from his connections and invitations, then turned against him following media reports about other women’s accusations. Those 2017 news stories sparked the broader #MeToo movement.
The 40-year-old Mann grew up in a small Washington state community and received training as a hairstylist, but harbored dreams of acting and relocated to Los Angeles in her twenties. Financial struggles sometimes left her sleeping in her vehicle, though she had secured some commercial and film roles before encountering Weinstein.
Excited by the Oscar-winning producer’s apparent interest in her career prospects, Mann accepted his invitations to spend time together, beginning with a book shopping excursion focused on cinema, she testified. Within weeks, she has stated, Weinstein began making unwanted sexual advances that she reluctantly accepted.
She has described entering into a confusing relationship with the then-married entertainment executive. While sometimes appreciating his professional support, she also resented his sexual expectations while remaining constantly aware of his industry influence.
In March 2013, Mann and a companion visited New York, where she planned to meet Weinstein for breakfast with her friends. Previous trial testimony detailed how he isolated her in a hotel room, prevented her from leaving by blocking the door, and ultimately assaulted her despite her verbal objections of “I don’t want to do this” and “no.”
Following the alleged assault, Mann continued meeting with Weinstein and engaging in what she described as mostly consensual intimate encounters. Over approximately four years, she sent him messages including “miss you,” “there is no one else I would enjoy catching up with that understands me quite like you” and “I love you, always do. But I hate feeling like a booty call.”
Defense attorneys have pointed to these communications as evidence of a genuine caring relationship. Mann has maintained she was attempting to navigate a complex situation with an unpredictable individual.
The Associated Press typically does not name individuals who report sexual assault unless they consent to identification, as Mann has chosen to do.
