A Polish mannequin lied that Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted her beginning at age 16 as a part of a cash-grab scheme to flee her abusive ex-husband, the previous producer’s lawyer steered in courtroom Friday.
Michael Cibella, a lawyer for the fallen Miramax founder, zeroed in on accuser Kaja Sokola, 39, in Manhattan Supreme Courtroom over her alleged money-hungry rip-off on the sex-crimes retrial for Weinstein, 73.
Sokola’s alleged abuse by her husband “gave her motivation to say, ‘I’ve gotta get the cash to get out of this abusive relationship,’ ” the lawyer mentioned.
Sokola obtained $475,000 by means of a sufferer compensation fund arrange by means of a chapter continuing for ladies allegedly assaulted by Weinstein. She would additionally later settle with Disney, Miramax and Weinstein’s brother and enterprise associate, Bob Weinstein, for $3 million.
“She’s dwelling in an abusive relationship for 4 years, and as soon as she will get the cash from the Weinstein chapter case, she leaves,” Cibella mentioned, noting Sokola moved to the US simply two months after receiving the practically $500,000 payout.
Early throughout Cibella’s questioning of Sokola, she additionally admitted she is at present making use of for a “U” visa, which permits victims of against the law to dwell within the US. Sokola mentioned she additionally would have the Manhattan District Lawyer’s Workplace backing her immigration push due to her testimony towards Weinstein.
Prosecutor Shannon Lucey instructed the decide the protection’s claims have been far-fetched.
“The entire argument is pulling at straws,” Lucey mentioned.
Decide Curtis Farber later instructed the jury to ignore a few of Cibella’s questioning of Sokola, saying it went too far into her private life along with her husband — whom she divorced in late 2020.
Sokola testified over the previous three days about how Weinstein allegedly assaulted her 3 times — the primary time when she was a mannequin and aspiring actress at 16 in 2002.
She claimed Weinstein invited her to lunch however as an alternative took her to his SoHo loft, the place he touched her vagina and compelled her to the touch his penis.
Sokola instructed jurors she remained involved with Weinstein through the years, hoping he would assist her advance her appearing profession.
Then in a 2004 automotive journey with Weinstein, Sokola claimed he groped her breasts however she rebuffed his sexual advances for the 15-minute journey till she was dropped off on the health club.
Sokola mentioned that when she was 19 in 2006, she met Weinstein at a resort restaurant along with her older heart specialist sister — to whom she wished to show that her appearing profession was thriving.
Weinstein then requested Sokola to his room to take a look at a script, and he orally raped her, Sokola claimed.
Friday afternoon, Sokola choked up as she instructed jurors Weinstein broke her coronary heart by ruining her appearing aspirations after the alleged assaults and pushing her out of the business.
“My coronary heart was damaged,” Sokola mentioned. “I believed I may do it. I met an individual who was on high of the world on the time.”
Weinstein did not ship on large guarantees to spice up her profession, she testified.
He mentioned he’d get her an on-screen function in a film with a distinguished actress, however as an alternative, she solely landed as an additional in a scene from “The Nanny Diaries” that in the end ended up on the cutting-room flooring, she mentioned.
Sokola is anticipated to proceed testifying Tuesday morning.
The film producer is barely charged with the 2006 alleged assault towards Sokola and never the 2 prior alleged incidents.
Sokola is testifying for the primary time towards Weinstein, not like different alleged victims within the case who testified at his 2020 trial.
Weinstein’s conviction and 23-year sentence have been overturned final yr. He has pleaded not responsible and faces as much as 25 years if convicted once more.
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