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Jennifer Siebel Newsom, documentary filmmaker and wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, appeared in court Monday (November 14th) after testifying that former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein raped her in 2005 when she was trying to build a career.
producers and actresses. During cross-examination in Los Angeles Superior Court, Siebel Newsom became emotional and said she did not expect to be called to the witness stand, reports Reuters. “Like many other women, my client was se*ually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein at a purported business meeting that turned out to be a trap.
She intends to testify at his trial in order to seek some measure of justice for survivors, and as part of her life’s work to improve the lives of women,” Fegan said. Siebel Newsom testified Monday that Weinstein invited her to meet him at The Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills for what she thought was a business meeting.
She was surprised to learn that she was supposed to meet Weinstein in his hotel suite, she said. Weinstein, the man who became the face of the #MeToo allegations five years ago, is serving a 23-year prison sentence for se* crimes in New York.
He is now on trial in Los Angeles on 11 charges of rape and se*ual assault, to which he has pleaded not guilty. The judge overseeing Harvey Weinstein's se*ual assault trial has dismissed four of the 11 charges against him after prosecutors said they did not intend to pursue charges against one of the accusers.
Defense attorneys argued that all of Weinstein's se*ual relationships were voluntary and that his accusers voluntarily participated in the relationships to advance their Hollywood careers.
Innocence has always been a point of pride for Weinstein
“All of the allegations against Mr Weinstein are either fabricated, or they result from consensual se*ual relationships that his accusers now falsely characterize as se*ual assaults,” Weinstein’s lawyer, Mark Werksman, said.
“We believe there is not enough evidence for a jury to find Mr. Weinstein guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” one of Weinstein’s attorneys said. Judge Lisa B. Lench denied the motion, stating in court, “I think there is enough evidence to send all these counts to the jury, and I will do so”.