Harvey Weinstein’s ongoing New York rape retrial took a sharp turn this week after defense attorneys introduced a previously undisclosed 2013 note written by accuser Jessica Mann, raising new questions about the nature of their relationship. The handwritten entry, shown in court on Thursday, April 30, became a focal point as Weinstein’s legal team argued it reflected a consensual dynamic rather than assault.
Mann, testifying for a fifth day, acknowledged writing the note just days after the alleged March 2013 incident in a Manhattan hotel room. According to the Associated Press, she described becoming “emotionally attached” and longing for “a mutual and loving relationship,” without referencing rape.
Defense attorney Teny Geragos pressed Mann on the omission, suggesting the document showed her feelings were tied to a complicated but consensual relationship with Weinstein, who has consistently denied assaulting anyone.
On the stand, Mann pushed back on that interpretation, telling jurors, “I know that I was struggling with some of the decisions I was making that were different than what I was raised with,” adding there was “a lot going on at this time in my life.”
She also pointed to emotional conflict reflected in the note, testifying, “I was feeling very controlled.” Proceedings ended early after Mann said she felt “spacey” and later “dissociated” while recounting the alleged assault, with the court set to resume on Friday, May 1.
The testimony marks the third time Mann has taken the stand against Weinstein. She has previously stated that their relationship began as consensual but later “degenerated into rape,” alleging assaults in New York and months later in Beverly Hills. Weinstein has not been charged in connection with the California allegation.
Earlier this week, Mann told jurors, “He just treated me like he owned me,” while also acknowledging she felt affection for “a part of him” due to moments of personal validation and encouragement.
Weinstein’s defense has leaned heavily on that complexity, arguing the relationship included “human moments” and mutual interaction. During cross-examination, Geragos highlighted those dynamics, questioning Mann about her own description of emotional attachment and shared experiences.
The retrial follows a long legal battle that has defined Weinstein’s post-Hollywood life. His original 2020 conviction in New York was overturned on procedural grounds, leading to subsequent proceedings, including a retrial last year that ended without a verdict on the rape charge tied to Mann’s allegations. Separate from this case, Weinstein is also serving a sentence in California related to other convictions.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, help is available. In the U.S., you can contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit online.rainn.org for confidential support.
