Jessica Mann speaks: Weinstein accuser ‘99% certain’ she’s ready for a retrial

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal feelings or trauma from sexual assault, call the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for support by dialing 988 or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

(NewsNation) — A retrial date has been set for Harvey Weinstein after a ruling overturned his 2020 rape conviction. Meanwhile, his victims have been subject to an emotional roller coaster as they process the news.

Jessica Mann is one of two women whose testimony helped put Weinstein in jail. She hasn’t spoken publicly about the case since NewsNation’s interview with her in 2021.

In an interview with NewsNation’s Rich McHugh, Mann said the decision was shocking and she was initially suicidal upon hearing the news.

“I laid in bed that night and I was actually like, my whole life was meaningless,” she said.

Mann reached out to what she calls her “crisis team,” people in the trauma industry and medical fields, for support.

“I got through it and I was really able to turn that around really quick and not feel like all those years of my life completely went to waste,” she told NewsNation. “Now I am looking forward and moving forward.”

The New York Court of Appeals overturned the case in a narrow 4-3 vote. Weinstein remains in jail for 16 more years, serving a sentence for a rape conviction in Los Angeles.

His legal team is trying to overturn that case too.

Prosecutors said part of the decision to retry the case was up to Mann and Mimi Haley to decide if they wanted to go through another trial.

“I have no fear of going through another trial,” Mann said. “I’m learning what that’s going to require of me but I have no fear and I’m ready.”

While Mann said she was 99% certain she was willing to go back to court, she admitted she struggles with the psychological impact that comes with testifying.

“It is psychological hell, it put me through a lot of pain,” she said. “I just want to weigh what the result’s going to be for me personally at the end of it, because I do have some questions.”

Among those, Mann said, are how much time Weinstein has already served for her charge and what could be gained by re-convicting him.

On Wednesday, a judge granted a retrial and a tentative trial date was set for sometime after Labor Day.