Tensions escalated Friday morning during Harvey Weinstein’s trial in New York City, as his attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, questioned former TV production assistant Miriam Haley about her allegations of sexual assault by the ex-Hollywood producer.
During cross-examination, Bonjean pressed Haley on why she accepted an invitation to meet Weinstein at his SoHo apartment on July 10, 2006, despite an earlier incident where he had shown up uninvited at her East Village home after she declined his offer to attend Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week — a visit Haley described as “bizarre.”
Haley explained that she felt she may have “offended” Weinstein after turning down his Paris offer. When she later accepted his invitation to fly her to L.A. for the “Clerks II” premiere, she said she “felt it would’ve been weird not to go and at least say hi” at his apartment.
“You accepted a benefit, right?” Bonjean asked, referring to the flight and event invitation. Haley replied, “An invitation, yeah.”
Bonjean then questioned Haley about what she was wearing during her visit to Weinstein’s apartment. Haley said she couldn’t recall. “Is it possible you were wearing jeans?” Bonjean asked. Haley responded that she didn’t remember Weinstein removing jeans.
“What do you remember him ripping off?” Bonjean asked. “My tampon,” Haley replied.
Haley began to raise her voice as Bonjean continued to question her memory of the outfit she was wearing. When Haley testified that she did not remove her own clothes during the assault by Weinstein, Bonjean remarked that it would be up to the jury to determine the truth of that claim.
“It’s my experience!” Haley said, breaking down in tears. At one point, looking in Weinstein’s direction, she exclaimed, “Fucking asshole.”
Weinstein is charged with committing a first-degree criminal sexual act against Haley in July 2006. He has pleaded not guilty.
In addition to the charge related to Haley, Weinstein faces another count of committing a first-degree criminal sexual act and one count of rape in the third degree. He pleaded not guilty to those charges as well.
From Variety US