Why Weinstein’s team risked vilifying Jennifer Siebel Newsom, other accusers in post-MeToo trial
To the very end of Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial in Los Angeles, his defense team lawyers didn’t let up on their efforts to malign and “slut shame” Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the other accusers, arguing that these women falsely accused the producer of assault because they were embarrassed they had “transactional sex” with him to advance their careers.
. California’s first partner, a documentary filmmaker and once aspiring film and TV actor, couldn’t “square away” the fact that she had consensual sex with him.FILE – Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in court at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 4 2022. Opening statements are set to begin Monday in the disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein’s Los Angeles rape and sexual assault trial.
“This defense strategy absolutely can backfire and cause a lot of anger,” said Michelle Simpson Tuegel, whose Texas-based law firm has represented sexual assault survivors in high-profile cases, such as the litigation against the U.S. Olympic Committee, Michigan State University, and USA Gymnastics over disgraced physician and convicted rapist Larry Nassar.
Weinstein, 70, is accused by four women, including Siebel Newsom, of assaulting them in Los Angeles County between 2004 and 2013. He faces two counts of forcible rape and five counts of sexual assault. Los Angeles County prosecutors say he lured the women to meetings under the guise of offering career help before assaulting them and threatening them into silence.
Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney Joshua Ritter agreed that it was “highly risky” for Weinstein’s team to aggressively cross-examine his accusers and to even disparage them, particularly in a post-#MeToo political climate when Weinstein is the “poster child” for the movement. Ritter said these questions fit a strategy based on the view that Siebel Newsom is a “liar” putting on a performance. But he agreed it can come across as “tone-deaf.” This strategy would only work if the attorney is “really good at reading the room” and is getting the sense that jurors could be sympathetic to this argument, Ritter added.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why mortgage industry titan Stephen Smith isn't panicking — and why you shouldn't eitherA healthy labour market and the mortgage stress test should stave off real estate disaster, says Stephen Smith. Read on
Read more »
Harvey Weinstein’s Rape Trial Lawyer Derides Jennifer Siebel Newsom For “Theatrical, Overly Dramatized Performance” In Closing Argument; Case Goes To Jury Tomorrow“Regret is not the same thing as rape, and it’s important we make that distinction in this courtroom,” said Harvey Weinstein’s defense attorney Alan Jackson of Jennifer Siebel Newsom today in his c…
Read more »
‘The White Lotus’ Star Haley Lu Richardson Talks Episode 5’s Shocking EndingThe actor also discusses how after five months of working with Jennifer Coolidge, she still can’t tell where Tanya ends and Jennifer begins.
Read more »
Jennifer Lopez Just Dropped Another Hint That Her New Album Is All About Ben Affleck.JLo shares further detail on how her relationship with Ben Affleck will be represented in her new album.
Read more »
‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ Finds AVOD Streaming Home On The Roku ChannelThe Roku Channel has now become the exclusive AVOD streaming home for The Jennifer Hudson Show. All previously aired episodes are available beginning Thursday, and new episodes will hit the platfor…
Read more »
Jennifer Garner, John Legend attend lavish U.S. state dinner for France's MacronU.S. President Joe Biden rolled out the red carpet on Thursday for celebrities, lawmakers, and titans of industry at the White House's first state dinner in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Read more »