In a New York courtroom, the legal team representing Harvey Weinstein took the floor on Thursday to cross-examine a woman who accused the former Hollywood mogul of forcibly subjecting her to oral sex nearly 20 years prior.
Miriam Haley, testifying yet again at Weinstein’s retrial for rape, faced intense questioning about the specifics of her memories, as well as the overall narrative she has recounted. Defense attorney Jennifer Bonjean focused on the fact that Haley, who was seeking a career in entertainment production, continued to interact with Weinstein even after feeling demeaned by his remarks about her legs and his request for a massage during a meeting several months before the alleged assault in 2006.
“You understood these were sexual overtures?” Bonjean asked. Haley acknowledged that she did. “You rebuffed them, and he still gave you his phone number, right?” continued Bonjean. “Yes,” Haley confirmed, noting she soon landed a brief spot on “Project Runway,” a show produced by Weinstein, following an encounter in his company’s hotel suite during the Cannes Film Festival that year.
Haley maintained throughout her testimony that her aim was purely professional, seeking job opportunities from Weinstein, and nothing more.
Bonjean questioned Haley’s decision to obtain legal representation and publicly announce her accusations during the rise of the #MeToo movement in October 2017, when numerous women were coming forward with accounts of being sexually assaulted or harassed by the Oscar-winning producer. Weinsteins, 73, denies all allegations, maintaining his innocence and claiming that his accusers consensually engaged with him in hopes of advancing their careers.
Haley, who has sometimes used the name Mimi Haleyi, is the first among three accusers to testify at this retrial, revisiting and adding to the details she provided in the testimony that contributed to Weinstein’s 2020 conviction, which was later overturned.
On Wednesday, she told the court that Weinstein assaulted her after he invited her to his residence under the guise of a professional meeting, pushing her onto a bed and ignoring her repeated refusals. She recounted informing two friends immediately afterward about the assault.
Following the incident, Haley recalled accepting a preplanned flight to Los Angeles, paid for by Weinstein, and weeks later meeting him again at a Manhattan hotel. Though expecting a public conversation, she was instead taken to his room, where she described having unwilling, albeit not forceful, intercourse.
Despite these experiences, Haley admitted to remaining in contact with Weinstein, often corresponding with “Lots of love” in emails to him and his assistant, saying she was still trying to leverage their association for her career, and was mentally suppressing her experiences to cope.
Bonjean pointed out Haley hadn’t initially shared her subsequent encounters or continued contact when she publicly aired her allegations in 2017. “You told the press only part of the story, correct?” Bonjean asked. “I told the part that was relevant to what I was trying to share,” Haley replied. She dismissed Bonjean’s insinuation that she spoke up to initiate a lawsuit against Weinstein, although she later sued and received a settlement of approximately $475,000.
During the cross-examination, Bonjean scrutinized Haley about why she pursued a meeting with a prominent producer despite her limited experience. “So, as somebody in my position, I should have turned it down, is what you’re saying?” Haley retorted. “I’m not saying you should have done anything,” Bonjean answered.
Bonjean will leave Weinstein’s defense team following her questioning of Haley, who is scheduled to return to the stand on Friday.
Weinstein’s retrial centers on charges involving Haley and another original trial accuser, Jessica Mann, who claims Weinstein raped her in 2013. Additionally, he faces accusations for the first time from former model Kaja Sokola, who alleges Weinstein forced oral sex upon her in 2006. Both Mann and Sokola are anticipated to testify.
In general, the press refrains from naming individuals who claim to be victims of sexual assault unless they give explicit permission. Haley, Mann, and Sokola all have granted such permission.
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