NEW YORK (Reuters) - A woman who says Harvey Weinstein raped her is expected to face her third day of cross-examination by the former Hollywood producer’s lawyer on Tuesday, after the previous day was cut short when she broke down in sobs on the witness stand.
Witness Jessica Mann arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court to testify in the trial of Harvey Weinstein in New York, US., February 4, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
Jessica Mann, 34, began weeping uncontrollably during Weinstein’s rape trial in Manhattan on Monday as she read aloud an email she wrote in 2014 describing Weinstein as a “pseudo father.”
The trial is widely seen as a milestone in the #MeToo movement, in which women have accused powerful men in business, entertainment, media, and politics of sexual misconduct.
Mann had testified on Friday that Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel room in March 2013, early in what she described as an “extremely degrading” relationship with him. She said the relationship continued in some form for years after that.
The 67-year-old former producer has pleaded not guilty to raping Mann and to sexually assaulting another woman, Mimi Haleyi. He faces life in prison if found guilty of predatory sexual assault, the most serious charge.
Before Mann returned for cross-examination on Tuesday, prosecutors called actress Emanuela Postacchini.
Mann had testified that Weinstein once pressured her to engage in a sexual act with Postacchini in front of him, although the women did not go through with it.
Postacchini partly corroborated that story, telling jurors that Weinstein took her to a hotel room with Mann and “told us to do something,” though when pressed for details she said she could not remember specifics. She said that Mann ended up crying “in a fetal position on the ground.”
Weinstein has not been charged with any crime in connection with that alleged incident, and the women did not say it was nonconsensual.
Since 2017, more than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct. Weinstein, whose films included “The English Patient” and “Shakespeare in Love,” has denied the allegations and has said any sexual encounters were consensual.
In the course of her cross-examination, which began on Friday, Weinstein’s lawyer Rotunno repeatedly suggested that Mann willingly had sex with Weinstein to advance her career. At one point she asked whether Mann “manipulated” Weinstein when she sent him friendly messages and asked to see him, even though she was not attracted to him.
“How I handled it to survive and process it, yeah, I guess you could say manipulation,” Mann answered.
Rotunno also confronted Mann with affectionate emails she sent Weinstein after the alleged rape. Mann said she sent Weinstein flattering messages to avoid making him angry and show she was “not a threat.”
Jurors have already heard testimony from Haleyi and three other women who said Weinstein assaulted them.
Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jonathan Oatis
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February 04, 2020 at 06:17PM
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Weinstein accuser who broke down on stand faces third day of cross-examination - Reuters
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