Jury Room ERUPTS – Was Weinstein TAMPERING?

Harvey Weinstein’s retrial in Manhattan took an unexpected turn as jury deliberations collapsed amid allegations of threats, tampering, and a “sneaky” foreman who set artificial deadlines.

At a Glance

  • Weinstein was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual act against Miriam Haley but acquitted of charges involving Kaja Sokola
  • A mistrial was declared on third-degree rape charges involving Jessica Mann after chaotic jury deliberations
  • Jurors made shocking claims of threats among jury members and allegations that some jurors were “bought out” by Weinstein
  • Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has vowed to retry Weinstein for a third time on the rape charge
  • Weinstein currently faces up to 25 years for his New York conviction while already serving a 16-year sentence in California

Jury Room Chaos Leads to Mistrial

The latest chapter in Harvey Weinstein’s legal saga took a dramatic turn when a Manhattan judge declared a mistrial on a third-degree rape charge after jury deliberations descended into chaos. The seven-woman, five-man jury convicted the former Hollywood mogul of a first-degree criminal sex act against Miriam “Mimi” Haley and acquitted him of charges involving Kaja Sokola, but could not reach consensus on allegations involving Jessica Mann.

Jurors have come forward with disturbing allegations about the deliberation process. Juror No. 1 claimed he was “threatened” by another jury member, while Juror No. 7 reported accusations that some jurors had been “bought out” by Weinstein, though no specific jurors were named in these allegations. The jury foreman, who has faced substantial criticism from fellow jurors, allegedly set artificial deadlines for deliberations and threatened to end discussions prematurely.

“Sneaky” Foreman Under Fire

Multiple jurors have publicly criticized the jury foreman’s conduct during deliberations. Chantan Holmes-Clayborn, one of the jurors, did not mince words about the foreman’s behavior during the high-profile case. The conflict reached a breaking point when the foreman refused to continue deliberations, citing alleged threats against him.

“Everything he did was sneaky,” said Chantan Holmes-Clayborn about the jury foreman. 

Weinstein’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, has vehemently denied allegations of jury tampering and called for a thorough investigation into the claims. The defense team characterized some of the jury room exchanges as “menacing and harassment” in their request for a mistrial. Judge Curtis Farber noted that many jurors were “extremely disappointed” that deliberations ended before they could reach a verdict on all charges.

Prosecutor Vows Third Trial

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has announced plans to retry Weinstein on the rape charge, marking what would be the third trial on these allegations. Jessica Mann, the alleged victim in the rape charge, has expressed willingness to testify again to pursue justice. This development adds another layer to Weinstein’s ongoing legal troubles as he already faces up to 25 years in prison for his current New York conviction.

“Any claim that Mr. Weinstein did anything so grossly improper such as paying off a juror is patently false and is why we insisted on a thorough and immediate investigation by the Court,” said Arthur Aidala, Weinstein’s attorney. 

Weinstein’s legal battles have been ongoing since 2020, when he was first convicted in New York. That conviction was later vacated by New York’s highest court due to prejudicial testimony, leading to the current retrial. Throughout these proceedings, Weinstein has maintained his innocence, claiming all sexual encounters were consensual. He is currently serving a 16-year sentence in California for a separate rape conviction while his legal team prepares to appeal his most recent New York conviction.

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