Harvey Weinstein “taken advantage of 3 females” while “he held unconfined power for over thirty years” in Hollywood, a district attorney stated Wednesday throughout an opening declaration at the previous flick magnate’s sex criminal offenses retrial in New york city.
” Harvey Weinstein had massive control over those operating in tv and movie. He determined that remained in and that was out,” the district attorney, Shannon Lucey, informed the court of 7 females and 5 males. “He held the gold ticket. The possibility to make it or otherwise.”
Lucey asserted that “no” was “not a word the offender was made use of to hearing.”
” The offender desired their bodies and the even more they withstood the a lot more strong he obtained,” she stated.
Harvey Weinstein shows up in Manhattan Crook Court in advance of opening up disagreements in the rape and sexual offense test versus him in New York City, April 23, 2025.
Sarah Yenesel/POOL/AFP by means of Getty Photos
Weinstein, 73, has actually begged blameless and refutes the accusations.
His defense lawyer, Arthur Aidala, responded to throughout his opening up declaration that Weinstein did not push the females and asserted they were utilizing him for his links.
” The spreading sofa was not a criminal activity scene,” Aidala stated.
‘ He had all the power,’ district attorney claims
The Court of Appeals reversed Weinstein’s first sentence in 2014, discovering the test court “incorrectly confessed testament of uncharged, supposed previous sex-related acts versus individuals aside from the plaintiffs of the underlying criminal offenses.”
He is being retried for sexually attacking 2 females, Mimi Haley and Jessica Mann. He is additionally billed with sexually attacking a 3rd female, Kaja Sokola, that was not component of the initial test. All 3 females have actually openly stepped forward and are being recognized by name in the test.
Ahead of the opening declaration, a court police officer rolled Weinstein right into court. He showed up in a navy fit, white t-shirt, connection and thick black spectacles. 2 court policemans rested behind him at each of his shoulders.
2 females that affirmed versus Weinstein at his initial test were amongst the viewers in the stuffed court.
Lucey, an assistant area lawyer in Manhattan, described the supposed sex attacks dedicated versus the 3 females.
Lucey stated Haley was not curious about Weinstein however, under the role of talking about a manufacturing function on “Job Path,” she mosted likely to his Crosby Road house in July 2006 where he supposedly “held her down” and subjected her to physical sex-related conduct.
The district attorney kept in mind the dimension distinction in between both: “115-pound Mimi, 300-pound offender.”
Sokola was 16 when she initially satisfied Weinstein in 2002 at a dining establishment in the West Town soon after authorizing a modeling agreement to find to New york city from Poland. Weinstein asked if she wanted remaining in films and “her eyes illuminated,” Lucey stated.
A number of years later on, in 2006, Weinstein cast Sokola as an added in “The Baby-sitter Diaries.” After a lunch at a Manhattan resort that year, Weinstein supposedly “continued her shoulders with sufficient pressure to obtain her down on the bed” and compelled foreplay on the 19-year-old as she stated, “Please do refrain this,” Lucey insurance claims.
Lucey additionally asserts that when Sokola was 16, Weinstein supposedly compelled her to touch his genital areas in a Manhattan house. Weinstein is not butted in that declared 2002 event in the charge, as it is outside the law of constraints. Yet the court has actually enabled Sokola to affirm concerning it throughout the test, in addition to a 2nd supposed event entailing Weinstein that she claims took place in 2004. Sokola formerly submitted a claim in New york city under the Youngster Victims Act over the supposed 2002 event, which district attorneys stated has actually given that been cleared up.
In 2013, Weinstein supposedly subjected Mann to sex without her permission at a resort.
” The offender dedicated these acts while he went to the top of the show business. He had all the power. They had none. That inequality of power guaranteed their silence,” Lucey stated.
Lucey asserts Mann had actually additionally participated in sex-related experiences with Weinstein that were not pushed out of anxiety of his power in the market.
Harvey Weinstein shows up at his retrial in Manhattan Crook Court, April 23, 2025, in New york city.
Steven Hirsch/Pool/Getty Photos
Protection preserves acts were consensual
Weinstein’s lawyer started his protection by contrasting the prosecution’s opening declaration to a coming destination at the cinema.
” The amount of times has the sneak peek looked excellent and the flick failed on its face?” Aidala asked. “This instance is mosting likely to fail on its face.”
He begged jurors: “We desire you to see the entire flick.”
Aidala concurred with district attorneys that Weinstein was an effective guy in the tv and movie sectors, however he informed the court Weinstein did not push the females he’s charged of attacking. Rather, Aidala asserted Weinstein participated in “equally advantageous connections” that the lawyer stated have actually been taking place in Hollywood for a a century.
” They’re messing around with him consensually,” Aidala asserted. “The spreading sofa was not a criminal activity scene.”
The protection asked the court to attract a difference in between immorality and outrage and see the supposed experiences as something entailing “buddies with advantages.”
Aidala stated all 3 declared sufferers kept extensive, pleasant, favorable connections with Weinstein after the supposed attacks.
” Love you, miss you, XO,” Aidala stated, pricing estimate messages he stated the females sent out to Weinstein.
” He was the guy that can make points take place,” Aidala stated. “They wished to make use of Harvey.”
The protection recommended the females decorated their allegations as component of a cash grab.
” There will certainly be 4 million factors to exist. That’s just how much they all took,” Aidala stated after mentioning the existence of Gloria Allred, the lawyer for among the complainants, in the back row.
