Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted younger ladies hoping to make it in Hollywood, a Los Angeles prosecutor argued on Monday, whereas the previous producer’s lawyer stated his accusers willingly took half in a “casting couch” tradition to spice up their careers.
Weinstein, the person who grew to become the face of #MeToo allegations 5 years in the past, is presently serving a 23-year jail sentence for intercourse crimes in New York. He is now on trial in Los Angeles on 11 costs of rape and sexual assault and has pleaded not responsible.
In opening statements, Deputy District Attorney Paul Thompson supplied graphic particulars and quotes from ladies who stated Weinstein invited them to lodge rooms for purported enterprise conferences between 1991 and 2015.
“He was trying to keep his penis in my mouth,” Thompson quoted one as saying. He quoted one other as saying Weinstein undressed her and fondled her breast whereas masturbating. Weinstein, seated within the courtroom in a darkish swimsuit and tie, sometimes shook his head whereas Thompson spoke.
Alleged incidents involving 4 of the ladies are the premise of the fees towards Weinstein. The different 4 ladies, who had encounters exterior of Los Angeles, will probably be introduced by prosecutors to attempt to set up a sample of conduct.
Weinstein lawyer Mark Werksman informed jurors that every allegation was a “weak and unsubstantiated trickle that will evaporate upon your close scrutiny.”
“You’ll learn that in Hollywood, sex was a commodity,” Werksman stated. “It was the casting couch. Everyone did it … because each wanted something from another,” Werksman stated.
Now have a look at him,” Werksman added. “He’s not Brad Pitt or George Clooney. Do you think those beautiful women had sex with him because he’s hot? No. They did it because he was powerful.”
Werksman additionally famous that every of the ladies got here ahead solely after studies about Weinstein’s conduct helped gasoline the #MeToo motion of ladies talking out about sexual harassment and abuse in Hollywood and past.
Thompson stated not one of the accusers spoke publicly on the time as a result of they anxious Weinstein “could crush their careers.” He confirmed the jury film posters of “Pulp Fiction,” “Shakespeare in Love” and different Weinstein productions.
“At this time, this was the most powerful person in the industry,” Thompson quoted one of many ladies as saying. Another stated: “He was king.”
Weinstein, 70, was convicted of sexual misconduct in New York in February 2020. He was extradited from New York to a Los Angeles jail in July 2021.
In New York, Weinstein is interesting his conviction and 23-year jail sentence. He might withstand 140 years in jail if convicted on the entire costs in Los Angeles.
