New York, April 22, 2026
Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein is facing new allegations in court that he raped actress Jessica Mann in 2013, with prosecutors asserting he exploited her during the assault.
Weinstein, already serving a 16-year prison sentence in California for unrelated sexual crimes, is on trial for the alleged rape of Mann. His defense team, led by attorney Jacob Kaplan, counters that the two had a consensual sexual relationship. The case marks another chapter in the sprawling legal saga surrounding Weinstein, whose predatory behavior was first exposed in 2017 by investigative reports from *The New York Times* and *The New Yorker*.
The Allegations and Defense
Prosecutors argue that Weinstein leveraged his power in the entertainment industry to assault Mann, one of more than 80 women who have accused him of sexual misconduct. The trial focuses on the 2013 incident, with the prosecution painting Weinstein as a serial predator who manipulated vulnerable women.
Weinstein’s lawyer, Jacob Kaplan, has pushed back, claiming the relationship between his client and Mann was consensual. “Mr. Weinstein and Ms. Mann had a consensual sexual relationship,” Kaplan stated, framing the encounter as part of a broader pattern of mutual interactions. The defense’s strategy hinges on disputing the prosecution’s portrayal of Weinstein as a coercive figure.