A jury composed of seven women and five men has been selected for the retrial of Harvey Weinstein, accused of rape in connection with the #MeToo movement. This jury has more female members than the panel that convicted the former Hollywood executive during his first trial five years ago. Opening statements for the case are anticipated to begin on Wednesday, as there remains the task of finalizing six alternate jurors.
The jurors, drawn from Manhattan’s pool, include professionals from diverse fields such as physics research, photography, dietetics, software engineering in investment banking, and a retired city social worker. Following the selection of nine jurors last week, three more jurors and five alternates were chosen on Monday after a thorough selection process spanning four days.
Throughout jury selection, potential jurors were questioned about their backgrounds, experiences, and any factors that might affect their impartiality in this high-profile case. Defense attorney Mike Cibella addressed one prospective juror about the nature of the allegations, asking if explicit details would suggest guilt. The chosen juror responded negatively.
Prospective jurors were privately interviewed regarding their awareness and views on the case and Weinstein himself, with some being excused based on these discussions. In open court, prosecutor Shannon Lucey asked potential jurors to set aside any preconceived notions about the #MeToo movement, which gained momentum in 2017 following numerous sexual misconduct allegations against Weinstein.
Weinstein faces a retrial on charges of rape and sexual assault after New York’s highest court overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence due to improper rulings and prejudicial testimony. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, denying any acts of rape or sexual assault.
The retrial focuses on allegations that Weinstein raped an aspiring actress in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and committed a criminal sex act by coercing oral sex from a movie and TV production assistant in 2006. Additionally, he faces another criminal sex act charge involving a woman not included in the original trial, who claims Weinstein forced oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel.
