The retrial of Harvey Weinstein, a pivotal moment for the #MeToo movement, kicked off with opening statements on April 23 in Manhattan criminal court, and a new accuser’s identity was unveiled. Kaja Sokola, a former Polish model and actress, was named as the third woman alleging sexual assault by the disgraced Hollywood mogul, joining Jessica Mann and Miriam Haley from the 2020 trial.
Sokola, previously known as Complaining Witness No. 3, claims Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her in a Manhattan hotel in 2006, a charge added after his initial conviction was overturned. The revelation, reported by The Hollywood Reporter, has reignited discussions about accountability in Hollywood.
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Prosecutor Shannon Lucey painted a stark picture, telling jurors, “The defendant wanted their bodies, and the more they resisted, the more forceful he got.” She detailed how Weinstein allegedly lured women with career promises, only to assault them. Sokola, who was 16 during an earlier 2002 incident with Weinstein not charged in this trial, met him again in 2006 after working as an extra in The Nanny Diaries through his referral.
“She struggled with self-judgment, asking, ‘How am I here again?‘” Lucey said, recounting Sokola’s hotel room encounter. Sokola’s attorney, Lindsay Goldbrum, called the retrial a “pivotal moment in the fight for accountability in sex abuse cases.”
New accuser takes center stage in former movie mogul’s retrial
Weinstein’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, countered that the encounters were consensual, arguing, “The casting couch is not a crime scene.” He claimed the women had “mutually beneficial” relationships with Weinstein, who “had the key” to Hollywood’s gates. Weinstein, 73, wheeled into court due to health issues including cancer and diabetes, has pleaded not guilty to one rape count and two criminal sexual act counts. He’s serving a 16-year California sentence and faces a diverse jury of seven women and five men, a shift from the 2020 panel.
Sokola’s history with Weinstein includes a 2019 civil lawsuit against him, his brother Bob, Disney, and Miramax, settled for $3 million. Her testimony, alongside Mann’s rape allegation from 2013 and Haley’s 2006 assault claim, will anchor the prosecution’s case, expected to last six weeks with 25 witnesses.
“Harvey Weinstein had enormous control,” Lucey said, emphasizing his power to make or break careers. The trial, quieter than the 2020 media frenzy, still carries weight, with Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg present and Weinstein housed at Bellevue Hospital for medical reasons. Fans on X are split, some praising Sokola’s bravery, others questioning the timing of her claims.
This news was originally published on this post .
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