Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer suggested in court on Friday that Polish model Kaja Sokola lied about being sexually assaulted by Weinstein since the age of 16 as part of a scheme to escape her abusive ex-husband.
Michael Cibella, the lawyer representing the former Miramax producer, focused on Sokola’s alleged motives for financial gain during Weinstein’s sex-crimes retrial in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Cibella argued that Sokola’s abusive marriage gave her the incentive to fabricate the assault claims in order to secure a settlement and leave the relationship. He pointed out that she received $475,000 from a victim compensation fund related to Weinstein’s bankruptcy case and later settled with Disney, Miramax, and Bob Weinstein for $3 million.
Cibella highlighted that Sokola swiftly moved to the US just two months after receiving the substantial payout from the Weinstein bankruptcy case.
During questioning, Sokola disclosed that she is currently applying for a “U” visa, which allows crime victims to reside in the US, with support from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office due to her testimony against Weinstein.
Prosecutor Shannon Lucey dismissed the defense’s claims as far-fetched, stating that the argument was grasping at straws.
Judge Curtis Farber instructed the jury to disregard certain aspects of Cibella’s questioning of Sokola, deeming it too invasive into her personal life with her ex-husband, whom she divorced in late 2020.
Sokola testified over three days about the three alleged assaults by Weinstein, the first occurring when she was 16 in 2002.
She recounted how Weinstein invited her to lunch but instead took her to his SoHo loft, where he sexually assaulted her. Sokola claimed that over the years, she stayed in contact with Weinstein, hoping he would help advance her acting career.
In a 2004 car ride, Sokola alleged that Weinstein groped her breasts, but she resisted his advances for the duration of the ride until she was dropped off at the gym.
At the age of 19 in 2006, Sokola claimed that Weinstein orally raped her in a hotel room after asking her to review a script.
On Friday afternoon, Sokola became emotional as she told the jury how Weinstein shattered her acting dreams after the alleged assaults and pushed her out of the industry.
“My heart was broken,” Sokola expressed. “I believed I could do it. I met a person who was on top of the world at the time.”
Sokola testified that Weinstein failed to fulfill promises to advance her career, as he had assured her of an on-screen role with a prominent actress, but she only secured a minor role that was ultimately cut from the movie “The Nanny Diaries.”
Sokola is expected to resume her testimony on Tuesday morning.
Weinstein is facing charges related to the 2006 alleged assault against Sokola and not the two prior incidents.
Sokola is testifying against Weinstein for the first time, unlike other accusers who testified during his 2020 trial.
Weinstein, who has pleaded not guilty, had his conviction overturned last year and could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted again.
