Weinstein accuser Miriam Haley testifies about alleged 2006 sexual assault
Haley was a TV production assistant working for Weinstein's company when he invited to the "Clerks II" premiere in Los Angeles, she said. Weinstein asked her to stop by his apartment in New York just after inviting her to the premiere.
She alleged from the witness stand that, while seated on a sofa, Weinstein suddenly lunged at her trying to kiss her and "smothering me with advances."
She testified, "I realized that I'm getting raped."
She said after he pushed her into a bedroom and onto a bed that he would get more violent as he kept pushing her back down when she tried to get up.
"I decided the smartest thing to do -- safest, rather -- is to check out, endure it and have it over with and leave," she testified.
She testified she told Weinstein she was on her period and wearing a tampon, but he "yanked it out" and forcibly put his mouth on her vagina, according to Haley.
Weinstein was convicted of sexual crimes in 2020, but New York's highest court overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial.
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty at the New York re-trial. He is charged with a first degree sexual act against Haley.
He also was convicted and sentenced to more than 16 years in prison on three counts of rape and sexual assault in California.
Weinstein defense attorney Arthur Aidala characterized Weinstein's relationship with his accusers, including Haley, as a "friends with benefits" situation.
Haley's testimony is expected to take days, including cross-examination from Weinstein's defense team.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
House subpoenas Maxwell; judge denies Epstein grand jury files release
1 of 4 | Protesters hold photos of Jeffrey Epstein and President Donald Trump outside a bail hearing at Manhattan Federal Court in July 2019 after Epstein's arrest on sex-trafficking charges in New York City. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo July 23 (UPI) -- In the ongoing political drama over the so-called Jeffrey Epstein list of sex offenders, several developments took place Wednesday. A U.S. House panel on Wednesday formally subpoenaed Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, while a U.S. district judge on the same day refused to unseal the grand jury testimony and records from cases against Epstein in the past. The House Oversight Committee on Wednesday subpoenaed Maxwell to depose her on Aug. 11 at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, Fla. Maxwell, 63, was an associate of former financier and convicted sex offender Epstein, who killed himself while jailed in New York City and awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges that included minors in 2019. She also is the daughter of former British media mogul Robert Maxwell and is serving a 20-year prison sentence in Florida after a jury found her guilty of sex trafficking in 2021. "The facts and circumstances surrounding both your and Mr. Epstein's cases have received immense public interest and scrutiny," House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said in the subpoena. Comer said the Justice Department also is undertaking "efforts to uncover and publicly disclose additional information related to your and Mr. Epstein's cases." "It is imperative that Congress conduct oversight of the federal government's enforcement of sex trafficking laws generally," he added, "and specifically its handling of the investigation and prosecution of you and Mr. Epstein." House speaker questions Maxwell's credibility Comer submitted the subpoena a day after a House Oversight subcommittee approved a motion that directed him to seek Maxwell's testimony before the Oversight Committee. The Justice Department on Tuesday also announced it will interview Maxwell soon to provide greater transparency in the case against Epstein. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Wednesday questioned the credibility of Maxwell's testimony. "Could she be counted on to tell the truth?" Johnson asked reporters. "Is she a credible witness?" He called Maxwell "a person who's been sentenced to many, many years in prison for terrible, unspeakable conspiratorial acts and acts against innocent young people." The subpoena announcement comes on the same day that a federal judge denied one of three Justice Department requests to release grand jury records from Epstein's grand jury trial there. U.S. District of Southern Florida Judge Robin Rosenberg refused to unseal the grand jury testimony and records from cases against Epstein in 2005 and 2007. Rosenberg said the Justice Department did not sufficiently outline arguments to unseal the court records. She also denied a request to transfer the matter to the U.S. District Court for Southern New York. Two federal judges there similarly are considering DOJ motions to unseal grand jury files from the former Epstein cases. Bondi said Trump's name is in the files While those rulings are pending, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump his name appears in the Epstein files, The New York Times reported on Wednesday. Bondi did not state the context in which Trump is mentioned, and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said Trump did not engage in any wrongdoing. Instead, Trump expelled Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club because the president thought Epstein was a "creep," Cheung added. Bondi earlier suggested she would release files related to the Epstein case, but recently said they don't contain anything noteworthy. Her announcement regarding the files triggered controversy, including among Republican congressional members. Johnson canceled Thursday's House session and said the chamber will recess until Sept. 2.
UPI
4 hours ago
- UPI
Look: Paul Mescal, Josh O'Connor embrace in 'History of Sound' poster
1 of 5 | Paul Mescal (L) and Josh O'Connor star in "The History of Sound," in theaters Sept. 12. Poster courtesy of Mubi July 23 (UPI) -- Mubi released the poster for The History of Sound on Wednesday. The film opens Sept. 12 in theaters. Paul Mescal stars as Lionel, a Boston Conservatory graduate who receives a letter from his classmate David (Josh O'Connor). Lionel visits David in Maine to collect traditional folk songs. The poster shows Mescal and O'Connor's faces in closeup, eyes closed and noses touching, lips about to connect. The synopsis confirms The History of Sound is a love story between their characters. O'Connor also starred in last year's tennis romance Challengers, co-starring Zendaya and Mike Faist. Mescal starred in the 2023 drama All of Us Strangers, a love story with Andrew Scott. The History of Sound premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Molly Price, Alison Bartlett and Chris Cooper also star. Oliver Hermanus directs Ben Shattuck's script.
UPI
4 hours ago
- UPI
Iowa man wins $100,000 from birthday gift lottery ticket
Christian Johnson won $100,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket he received as a birthday gift from a friend. Photo courtesy of the Iowa Lottery July 23 (UPI) -- An Iowa man received a scratch-off lottery ticket as a gift from a friend and scored a $100,000 birthday surprise. Des Moines man Christian Johnson told Iowa Lottery officials he was celebrating his 42nd birthday with friends when they presented him with a card containing a few scratch-off tickets. Johnson said he handed one of the tickets to his girlfriend to finish scratching and she called his attention to it. "She just was like, 'You need to look at this! You need to look at this!' " Johnson said. "I didn't think it was real at first. I'm like, there's no way! It's got to be a joke." The ticket, a $100,000 Mega Crossword game, had been purchased by his friend, Diana Ballentine, at Best Food Mart on East 14th Street in Des Moines. "I don't think it's hit me completely," Johnson said. "I am floored. I couldn't sleep at all last night waiting to come down here." He said he hasn't decided what to do with his money yet, but it will give him some peace of mind. "It definitely came at a perfect time," he said. "It's a blessing for sure."
