Hollywood producer denies allegations by five women who say he abused them between 2004 and 2013
Harvey Weinstein is facing a new trial, with at least 11 counts of rape and sexual assault, in Los Angeles. But a prosecutor claimed there were rapes in hotel rooms across the city, with women terrified by the power wielded by the famous Hollywood producer.
Opening statements began Monday, October 24, with prosecutors in Los Angeles saying eight women will testify about his alleged crimes. Weinsteinincluding Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker and actress who is now married to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Sibel claims Harvey Weinstein raped her during what she thought was a business meeting in 2005, when she was a young actress trying to “build” her career.
In his opening statement, Weinstein’s defense attorney, Mark Werksman, said that “you’re not going to see a single eyewitness to any allegation of sexual assault. In essence, each of these allegations will come down to the accusers saying ‘trust me’.
Today, Weinstein, 70, is serving a 23-year prison sentence after being convicted of sex crimes in New York in February 2020. Since 2017, nearly 100 women have publicly accused Weinstein of sexual violence and inappropriate sexual behavior during encounters ranging from in the 1970s.
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to the new charges and said all of his sexual encounters with women were consensual. Weinstein was charged with a total of 11 charges, but four of those charges — including two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault — involved the woman who was not included in the prosecution’s opening statement.
In 2005, Sybell Newsom was a “powerless actress trying to make her way in Hollywood when Weinstein invited her to a business meeting and then raped her,” her lawyer said.
“Sibelle had been invited to discuss her career in a hotel and was surprised when the meeting was moved to a private suite and the producer’s business associates quickly left.
Weinstein then allegedly invited her into a bathroom, asked her to touch him and then forced her onto a bed. During the attack, Sibel was crying and shaking and could not even speak because of her fear,” added her lawyer.
A third woman, a celebrity masseuse, went into a bathroom to wash her hands after giving Weinstein a massage, only for Weinstein to follow her into the bathroom, grope her and masturbate on the floor, the prosecutor alleged.
Weinstein was taken to court in a wheelchair by aides. He did not respond to the descriptions of the alleged rapes and assaults he committed.
Among other potential witnesses who may testify at trial is actor Mel Gibson, who prosecutors say was a friend of one of the accusers.
Weinstein could face up to 140 years in prison if convicted of all charges in Los Angeles.
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