Defense lawyers for Harvey Weinstein question accuser Miriam Haley during his #MeToo trial's cross-examination session.
Rewritten Article:
Harvey Weinstein's defense team took the offensive on Thursday as they grilled Miriam Haley, one of his accusers, during her third day of testimony at his retrial. Haley, alias Mimi Haleyi, has leveled charges against the disgraced former Hollywood mogul, claiming he forced oral sex on her nearly two decades ago.
During the trial, Haley faced questions about her decision to hire a lawyer and share her allegations during the explosive #MeToo movement in October 2017. Defense attorney Jennifer Bonjean locked horns with Haley, probing her on the specifics of her early statements to the press about the alleged assault and her relationship with Weinstein.
Bonjean managed to get Haley to admit that her initial interviews lacked a comprehensive picture of her relationship with Weinstein, but Haley refuted Bonjean's suggestion that her motivation was solely financial. Haley did acknowledge, however, that she did eventually file a lawsuit and accepted a settlement of approximately $475,000.
Weinstein, 73, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denies any sexual misconduct. His legal team has argued that all his accusers willingly engaged in sexual encounters with him, hoping to advance in the entertainment industry.
Haley testified earlier that she sustained contact with Weinstein for over a year after the alleged assault reportedly happening in his Manhattan apartment in July 2006. Haley disclosed that she traveled to Los Angeles on Weinstein's expenses the day after the alleged assault, and a few weeks later agreed to meet him at a New York hotel, expecting a professionally-driven interaction, only to be directed to his room for sex.
Bonjean pressed Haley on why she remained silent about the subsequent sexual encounter with Weinstein when she went public, as well as their continued contact. Haley explained that she shared only the incidents relevant to the message she aimed to convey.
Bonjean pointed out that Haley reported her allegations to the police in June 2018, yet held a press conference with attorney Gloria Allred just days after she saw media reports about other women accusing Weinstein of misconduct. Bonjean asked if Haley had sought to send a message to Weinstein.
Haley answered that she didn’t primarily think about Weinstein during the press conference, stating that her main objective was to support other victims who had previously come forward.
As Bonjean steps away from Weinstein's defense team to focus on another trial, more accusers are set to take the stand, including Jessica Mann and former model Kaja Sokola. During Wednesday's proceedings, under cross-examination by a prosecutor, Haley recalled the alleged incident as a seemingly professional meeting that Weinstein turned into a horrific attack. Afterward, she felt shocked, disgusted, and humiliated. Haley and her friends reportedly confirmed that she spoke to them about the alleged assault soon after it occurred.
The Associated Press usually does not disclose the identities of sexual assault victims without their consent. Haley, Mann, and Sokola have authorized The Associated Press to publish their names.
Insights
Motivated by a strong desire to expose Weinstein's behavior and support other victims, Haley decided to speak out publicly during the #MeToo movement. Haley's allegations played a crucial role in Weinstein's 2020 trial, leading to his conviction on sexual assault and rape charges. While the legal outcomes of civil suits against Weinstein vary, Haley's public testimony undeniably played an essential role in the #MeToo movement.
- Miriam Haley, one of Harvey Weinstein's accusers, was grilled by his defense team during her third day of testimony at his retrial, where she testified about the alleged forced oral sex incident involving Weinstein nearly two decades ago.
- Defense attorney Jennifer Bonjean questioned Haley about her decision to hire a lawyer and share her allegations during the #MeToo movement in October 2017, probing her on the specifics of her early statements to the press.
- Despite Bonjean's suggestion that Haley's motivation was solely financial, Haley refuted this claim, acknowledging that she did eventually file a lawsuit and accepted a settlement of approximately $475,000.
- In entertainment and general-news circles, as well as crime-and-justice reports, Weinstein has been accused by several celebrities and interested parties of using his power to force sexual misconduct.
- Bonjean pressed Haley on why she remained silent about subsequent sexual encounters with Weinstein and their continued contact, to which Haley explained that she shared only the incidents relevant to the message she aimed to convey.
- As more accusers prepare to testify, including Jessica Mann and former model Kaja Sokola, it remains to be seen how Weinstein's legal team will navigate these additional allegations in the ongoing trial.
