Escalation: Jury Selection Begins for Weinstein's Third Trial

Jury selection began Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court for Harvey Weinstein’s third New York trial. Jurors will consider a single count of third-degree rape tied to Jessica Mann’s account of a 2013 encounter in a Manhattan hotel.

More than 80 people asked to be excused during the initial screening. No jurors were selected by day’s end. Selection resumes Wednesday with private, individual questioning about their knowledge of the case.

Prosecutors disclosed a new piece of evidence before selection began, an alleged remark Weinstein made to a court officer in 2020: "If you had seen these girls, you would have done the exact same thing." The defense asked the judge to bar it as far-fetched and too late.

Justice Curtis Farber signaled he may revisit what evidence about Weinstein’s and Mann’s interactions the jury will hear. Estimates for how long the trial will run ranged from two to six weeks.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources