New York judge denies Harvey Weinstein's motion for a new trial. The court rejected claims of juror misconduct after a split verdict in June 2025 that convicted Weinstein of one criminal sex act tied to a 2006 incident with Miriam Haley. Jurors acquitted him on a Kaja Sokola-related charge but were deadlocked on a Jessica Mann rape count that prosecutors plan to retry. Weinstein, who remains jailed at Rikers Island and has reported serious health issues, continues to plead his innocence and may pursue plea negotiations.
New York Judge Rejects Harvey Weinstein’s Bid for New Trial, Upholds 2025 Sex-Crime Conviction
Jefferson Siegel-Pool/GettyHarvey Weinstein in court on May 2, 2025 in New York City.
A New York judge has denied Harvey Weinstein's request for a new trial, upholding his 2025 conviction on a single criminal sex act charge, court documents reviewed by PEOPLE show.
The judge issued the ruling during Weinstein's court appearance on Thursday, Jan. 8, after the producer argued that juror misconduct — including shouting and bullying during deliberations — warranted a retrial. The court found the response to juror complaints appropriate and declined to order a new trial.
Judge's Finding: The court wrote that its handling of juror complaints "appropriately balanced the competing interests of investigating the allegations while avoiding any unnecessary taint of the deliberating jury," according to court paperwork cited by PEOPLE.
What the Verdicts Mean
In June 2025, Weinstein, 73, was convicted in a split verdict of one count of a criminal sex act related to a 2006 incident involving former television production assistant Miriam Haley. At the retrial, jurors acquitted him on a separate charge alleging he forcibly performed oral sex on former model Kaja Sokola, while the jury remained deadlocked on a third-degree rape charge involving actress Jessica Mann.
Weinstein had been convicted in 2020 of raping Mann, but that conviction was later vacated, prompting the retrial that produced the mixed 2025 verdicts.
Defense, Prosecution and Next Steps
Weinstein has long maintained he did not assault anyone, while acknowledging personal wrongdoing that he described as infidelity. In court he told the judge he was innocent of assault and pleaded for another chance. Following the denial of the new-trial motion, defense attorney Arthur Aidala told the court he planned to pursue plea negotiations on the deadlocked count; he later said his client needed time to consider that option, according to the Associated Press.
Etienne Laurent-Pool/GettyHarvey Weinstein in court on Oct. 4, 2022 in Los Angeles.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. has said his office intends to retry Weinstein on the unresolved third-degree rape charge involving Jessica Mann.
Custody, Health and Other Sentences
Weinstein has been detained at Rikers Island since early 2020. He has described his time in custody as damaging to his mental health, saying the confinement is "soul-crushing" and has called the isolation unbearable, according to NBC News. During his incarceration he required emergency heart surgery and has reportedly been diagnosed with a bone marrow cancer. In 2024, one of his attorneys said he was being "completely mistreated" in jail and expressed concern for his medical care.
Separately, Weinstein is serving a 16-year sentence in California following a 2022 conviction for rape; that sentence remains a distinct legal matter from the New York proceedings.
Support Resources
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org for confidential support and resources.
Reporting in this article cites court documents reviewed by PEOPLE and reporting from The Hollywood Reporter, the Associated Press and NBC News.
Help us improve.
