A new jury has been selected in Harvey Weinstein’s #MeToo retrial, marking another pivotal chapter in one of the most closely watched sexual assault cases of the decade.
This time, seven women and five men will sit on the main jury—slightly shifting the gender balance from Weinstein’s first trial, where five women and seven men convicted him in 2020.
That conviction was overturned last year by New York’s highest court, which ruled that the trial had been unfair due to prejudicial testimony.
Weinstein, the once-powerful Hollywood mogul who became the face of the #MeToo reckoning, is again facing serious charges: rape and multiple counts of criminal sexual acts.
The retrial centers around three accusers, including one from the original trial and a new woman who claims Weinstein forced oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel.
Jury selection, which began last week, wrapped its fourth intense day on Monday. Jurors were thoroughly questioned about their backgrounds, careers, and feelings about the #MeToo movement.
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Among those selected: a physics researcher, a photographer, a dietician, and a retired social worker.
Prosecutors emphasized impartiality, repeatedly asking jurors if they could separate the movement from the man on trial. “Can you leave the #MeToo conversation at the door?” asked lead prosecutor Shannon Lucey.
Meanwhile, Weinstein’s defense grilled potential jurors about their ability to remain fair despite the graphic nature of the allegations.
“Would hearing salacious claims make you assume guilt?” one lawyer asked. One juror calmly replied, “No,” and was chosen.
Opening statements are expected to begin Wednesday. Weinstein, now 73, has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence.
As the retrial begins, the world once again turns its eyes to a courtroom in Manhattan—where justice, fairness, and public opinion will collide in real time.
