De-escalation: DA Alvin Bragg drops Mann rape charge

Manhattan prosecutors told the court they would not retry the last unresolved New York count, a third-degree rape charge tied to Jessica Mann. Prosecutor Nicole Blumberg read Mann’s letter saying she would not testify again, and Judge Curtis Farber formally dismissed the charge. The decision ends any prospect of a fourth trial on Mann’s allegation.

Mann wrote that eight years of proceedings had done her more harm than good and that the most recent trial left her struggling on the stand. She said she suffered a concussion shortly before testifying this spring and disassociated while testifying.

The district attorney’s office said it believes Mann and is now asking for a 20-year prison term at Weinstein’s September sentencing on his separate New York conviction for sexually assaulting Miriam Haley. Weinstein showed no reaction as he was led out in a wheelchair. His lawyer argued the case should never have been brought.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources