Jessica Mann Testifies About Alleged Rape by Harvey Weinstein

NEW YORK CITY — Former actress Jessica Mann testified in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday about an alleged rape by Harvey Weinstein that occurred nearly a decade ago. The 38-year-old broke down in tears while recounting the details of the attack, which she claims took place at the Doubletree Hotel in Midtown on March 18, 2013.

Mann described how she discovered a needle for an erection-inducing drug in the trash after the incident. The label on the needle contained the word “necro-something,” which Mann said she later Googled, leading to a disturbing definition. “I found on Google that it basically meant ‘dead penis,’ and you inject it and it can only be used a certain amount of times back-to-back over a certain time,” she told the jury. “I was freaked out. Did I get exposed to something? It was scary.”

After the alleged incident, Mann said she entered into a consensual relationship with Weinstein, describing him as “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” She noted the producer sometimes validated her, saying, “He told me I was beautiful and encouraged me, and that meant a lot to me.” However, Mann also recounted instances where she felt exploited for sex. “The word ‘no’ was a trigger for him. This other personality – I called it ‘The Monster side’ – would come out,” she testified.

During the proceedings, Weinstein, 73, was present in a wheelchair, clad in a dirty charcoal suit. Mann expressed fear about speaking out against him, emphasizing his connections to powerful figures like former President Bill Clinton. “I remember imagining if I ever said anything he would call his friend and the Secret Service would come get me,” she stated, reflecting her anxiety.

Mann’s testimony echoed what she shared during Weinstein’s first trial in 2020, where she described feelings of pity due to his alleged physical deformities. Though jurors previously convicted Weinstein of third-degree rape related to her case, they found him not guilty of first-degree rape. His conviction led to the current retrial.

Other witnesses, including former teen model Kaja Sokola and former TV production assistant Miriam “Mimi” Haley, have also testified in the trial, claiming Weinstein raped them. If convicted, Weinstein faces up to 25 years in prison.