Kaja Sokola, one of Harvey Weinstein’s accusers, protested Tuesday during his retrial in Manhattan as the defense questioned her about a private journal she had kept. The journal, which detailed past assaults, did not include Weinstein’s name but referenced him in relation to unfulfilled promises of help.
Defense attorney Michael Cibella suggested Weinstein’s promises, even as Sokola accused other men of assault, were part of the trauma she endured. Sokola responded, “Harvey made promises he didn’t keep — and he sexually assaulted me.”
Sokola, who wrote the journal in Polish in 2015 during substance abuse treatment, argued that the entries should not have been introduced in open court. “This is my personal things. I’m not on trial here,” she said as the defense read the journal aloud. Judge Curtis J. Farber allowed limited questioning but raised concerns about the journal’s authenticity and how it was obtained, suggesting it might “backfire” for the defense.
Earlier, Weinstein’s team questioned Sokola about her past lawsuits, including a $3.5 million settlement, insinuating it helped her leave her abusive husband. Sokola denied using Weinstein for career advancement, emphasizing that she never had a consensual relationship with him.
Sokola testified last week, alleging Weinstein sexually assaulted her in 2002 and 2006. However, only the 2006 incident is part of the current trial. Weinstein faces charges related to this case, including criminal sexual act and third-degree rape.
Sokola’s attorney, Lindsay Goldbrum, praised her client’s composure under aggressive cross-examination, stating that Sokola showed “remarkable courage and grace.”
Related topics:
