Harvey Weinstein: Quiet retrial of film mogul five years after #MeToo

Five years ago, under the high-wattage glare of the #MeToo movement, a jury convicted the film mogul Harvey Weinstein of one count of rape in the third degree of Jessica Mann, a former actor, and one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree against former production assistant Miriam Haley.

- Edward Helmore

That conviction helped cement #MeToo in the popular consciousness of the US and the world – a huge trophy not just for Weinstein's victims but also for millions of other women enduring sexual assault and harassment.

Yet that conviction, and a 23-year sentence, were sensationally set aside on grounds that New York prosecutors had used testimony from accusers that was unrelated to the charges. A second trial in California two years later – now also under appeal on similar grounds – then found him guilty on three of the seven charges, including rape and sexual assault.

Weinstein, 73, denies ever raping or sexually assaulting anyone.

Over the past several weeks, largely away from media attention, New York county prosecutors have rebuilt the first, familiar case before a new jury – with an additional accuser, Kaja Sokola, a model turned actor who was allegedly assaulted by Weinstein in a Manhattan hotel in early 2006.