Accuser of Weinstein publicly criticizes defense lawyer, stating "You ought to feel shame for your actions".
Unfiltered Takedown: The Retrial of Harvey Weinstein - A Glance at Kaja Sokola's Testimony
Veteran lawyer Mike Cibella's jaw was clenched as Kaja Sokola, a former model, confronted him. "You should be ashamed of yourself," she scoffed, marking the fifth day of her testimony at Weinstein's sex crimes retrial. The accused, Harvey Weinstein, a towering figure in Hollywood, stared coldly from the defendant's chair.
Sokola maintained her steadfast resolve, asserting that Weinstein's alleged transgressions, dating back to her teenage years, were the truth. They, she claimed, had irrevocably altered the trajectory of her life.
Cibella, sensing an opening, sparred, "It changed the course of your life in that you received $3.5 million from false accusations?" He referred to the compensation she was awarded through civil lawsuits in recent years.
Sokola retorted softly, "No. That's very unfair." The courtroom was electric with tension.
Sokola recounted her encounters with Weinstein, detailing how the pioneering producer had offered help to foster her acting ambitions, only to make inappropriate advances. The harassment began when she was 16 in 2002.
Weinstein faces a sexual assault charge based solely on Sokola's allegation that he forced oral sex upon her when she was 19. He also faces charges related to two other women's claims. He pleads not guilty to all charges, with his defense team arguing that his accusers pursued sexual encounters consensually in the pursuit of movie and TV roles.
Cibella scrutinized Sokola's relationship with Weinstein post-alleged assault, delving into her career motivations, personal struggles, and even a private journal she kept for an alcohol-abuse program in her native Poland.
The defense team had apparently acquired Sokola's decade-old writings through her sister. The court allowed references to portions where Sokola spoke of two other men who had sexually assaulted her but omitted any mention of Weinstein. Instead, she wrote about his promises but non-delivery of help.
Sokola testified Wednesday that she had initially left out Weinstein's alleged sexual abuse partly because she was unable to accept it at the time. Moreover, her sponsor was in the film business, knew who Weinstein was, and could potentially endanger her recovery.
Cibella challenged this explanation, pointing out that the text only referred to "Harvey W" and not his profession. Sokola replied that her sponsor was, nonetheless, aware of his identity, having discussions about him.
Tearing up, she struggled to articulate her feelings, "I felt very violated," she said, a hint of unease creeping into her voice. From time to time, she appeared to catch her breath, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Sokola, now 39 and a psychotherapist, was the second of Weinstein's accusers to testify at the retrial, the only one not involved in his first trial in 2020.
Another woman, Miriam Haley, and Jessica Mann have also testified, detailing their harrowing experiences with the disgraced Hollywood titan. Prosecutors added Sokola's allegations to the retrial, hoping to secure a conviction that would stand the test of time.
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- The Seattle courtroom buzzed with tension as Kaja Sokola, a former model, testified about the alleged crime committed against her by Harvey Weinstein, a towering figure in Hollywood.
- As the retrial of Harvey Weinstein continues, politics and general news outlets are reporting on his sex crimes accusations, including Sokola's claim that he made inappropriate advances towards her, which began when she was just 16 in 2002.
- In the midst of Weinstein's ongoing legal battles, several business interests have been affected, with some Hollywood insiders questioning the future of movie and TV productions in this era of crime and justice.
