Disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein returned to a New York courtroom on Wednesday for the opening day of his rape and sexual assault retrial.
Weinstein, who was wheeled into court in a wheelchair, is being tried again after New York’s highest court last year overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence in a major blow to the #MeToo movement.
State prosecutors brought a new charge against Weinstein in September: a criminal sexual act stemming from accusations from former model and aspiring actress Kaja Sokola. He is being retried on charges of rape and criminal sex act based on accusations from former TV production assistant, Miriam Haley, and aspiring actress, Jessica Mann.
The 73-year-old has pleaded not guilty.
In her opening statement on Wednesday, prosecutor Shannon Lucey recounted the claims of several accusers, telling them that Weinstein "didn't take no for an answer.”
The court was also introduced to the account of Sokola, the third woman bringing forward allegations in Weinstein's retrial. She did not testify in the previous trial.
Sokola was 16 at the time that she alleges Weinstein sexually assaulted her and is reportedly the youngest accuser to speak out against her.
Last week a judge ruled Weinstein could spend his retrial in a hospital rather than Rikers Island due to his extensive health issues.
Key Points
- Opening statements begin
- Recap: A timeline of Weinstein's legal battles
- Harvey Weinstein's health issues
- Who is Kaja Sokola?
- Harvey Weinstein: The #MeToo movement’s most notorious villain heads back to court for retrial
Weinstein set to appear in court for the second day of his retrial
14:38
,
Kelly Rissman
Jurors will likely hear a full day of testimony today.
Yesterday, prosecutors delivered their opening statements, walking through each of the three women’s alleged encounters with Weinstein that led to the charges he now faces.
Assistant District Attorney Shannon Lucey called the movie mogul a “Hollywood gatekeeper” and emphasized the power and control he wielded in the TV and film industries.
Weinstein’s defense attorney Arthur Aidala then delivered his opening statements, during which he also noted his client’s influence but turned the prosecution’s argument on its head. "They wanted him. He could change the trajectory of their lives,” Aidala argued.
The day concluded with testimony from the first witness: Stephan Sterns. He worked as Weinstein’s assistant in 2006 and recalled seeing Miriam Haley, one of the three women, at the Mercer Hotel, where she met up with Weinstein.
“I was not present for their meeting,” he clarified. “I just dropped Harvey into the lobby.”
The Independent's coverage has ended for the day
Wednesday 23 April 2025 23:01
,
Mike Bedigan
Our live coverage has ended for the day.
Coverage will resume tomorrow around 10 a.m.
Court adjourns for the day
Wednesday 23 April 2025 21:52
,
Mike Bedigan
Proceedings have wrapped up for the day.
We’ll be back for day two tomorrow for a scheduled 10 a.m. start.
Live from the court
Wednesday 23 April 2025 21:30
,
Mike Bedigan
The Independent’s Kelly Rissman, who has been watching proceedings today, writes:
This morning, about 80 members of the press and 20 members of the public were packed into a full courtroom. After a morning filled with opening arguments ranging from emotional to theatrical, the courtroom emptied out. Now there are only 25 journalists and 10 from the public.
What's happening inside seems representative of what's going on outside.
Even on a sunny day in New York, the park across from the courthouse, which is typically packed during high-profile cases, is quiet — as if one of the world's most notorious men of the era isn't just feet away.
There were no protesters and no supporters.
Weinstein's producer was instructed to carry locked silver briefcase while travelling
Wednesday 23 April 2025 21:15
,
Mike Bedigan
Stephan Sterns, who worked as an assistant for Weinstein was quizzed on the mogul’s manner of doing business.
Asked whether he ever saw Weinstein conduct business in hotel rooms, Sterns said: "Yes." They typically rented out three rooms: one for him, one for Weinstein, and one for meetings.
"Was it regular for him to conduct meetings in hotel rooms?", the prosecutor asked to which Sterns replied: "Yes."
Sterns said he was required to carry a locked silver briefcase with a hard shell while traveling. "I had to know where it was," he said.
He did not specify what was inside the briefcase.
First witness of Weinstein retrial takes the stand
Wednesday 23 April 2025 20:56
,
Mike Bedigan
Produce Stephan Sterns, 43, has been the first witness in the Weinstein retrial.
Sterns has told the jury he became one of four of Weinstein's assistants in late June 2006 and worked for Weinstein for less than a year.
He adds that Weinstein made careers for those discovered at festivals. "He showed up as the big man on campus...with deep pockets and a big reputation,” he said.
Gloria Allred gives press conference outside court
Wednesday 23 April 2025 20:09
,
Mike Bedigan
High-profile women’s rights lawyer Gloria Allred dared Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers to put her on the stand, after mention of her was made in opening statements.
Speaking outside court during recess, she she said: “I think these women who will testify are very brave.”
Referring to Weinstein attorney Arthur Aidala she added: “I double dare him to put me on the witness stand. Come on Arthur. Bring it on.
“The #MeToo movement is live and well and is living in New York.”
In his opening remarks, Aidala had described Allred as “one of the greats” who was “known for suing men.”
Recap: Timeline of Weinstein's legal battles
Wednesday 23 April 2025 19:15
,
Mike Bedigan
While we’re on lunch, here is a recap timeline of the disgraced movie mogul’s legal battles, spanning 2017 – present day.
Court adjourned for lunch
Wednesday 23 April 2025 18:45
,
Mike Bedigan
Court has been adjourned for a lunch break until 2.45 p.m.
We'll start hearing witness testimony then.
Defense lawyer says accusers only came forward after #MeToo
Wednesday 23 April 2025 18:39
,
Mike Bedigan
Aidala says that the women came forward with their accusations in 2017, following the advent of the #MeToo movement.
"Sorry Mr Weinstein,” he says, looking to his client, “but he wasn't the most powerful man in Hollywood," unlike Warner Bros and Paramount. "It's not like if he didn't give you a job, there was nowhere else to go."
"There were no complaints before they started handing out the money," he adds.
Sketches from inside the courtroom
Wednesday 23 April 2025 18:35
,
Mike Bedigan
Defense says trial is a circus that smells like 'poop and pee'
Wednesday 23 April 2025 18:22
,
Mike Bedigan
Aidala is delivering a crazy long metaphor about the circus and how the prosecution wants jurors to be enthralled with the acrobatics and popcorn during direct examination.
But the defense, through cross-examination, is going to show you what really goes on, he adds, showing you "the smell...the poop and the pee" that is overwhelming at the circus.
You can’t make this up.
At one point the judge even said "I don't know where you're going with this" prompting laughter from the whole room.
Female accusers are 'manipulating' and 'conniving' says defense
Wednesday 23 April 2025 18:15
,
Mike Bedigan
Aidala adds that the three female accusers are “smart, sophisticated women" as well as "manipulating" and "conniving.”
"They wanted to use Harvey when he's at the top and they wanted to use Harvey when he's at the bottom," he says.
He argues the women didn't go to police, a doctor, a hospital or a psychiatrist in the wake of the alleged encounters, before singling out high-profile lawyer Gloria Allred in the back row of the court.
"She's one of the greats," he says of Allred. Mimi picked her "because she's known for suing men."
Defense say new accuser's story is 'based on a lie'
Wednesday 23 April 2025 18:08
,
Mike Bedigan
In his opening statement, Aidala says that Kaja Sokola's "whole story is based on a lie" and she has a "lot of problems.” The prosecution previously highlighted that she struggles with eating disorders and alcohol addiction.
"From her teens through 30, she doesn't complain to a human being" about Weinstein, he says.
All three women have maintained "long-term relationships" with Weinstein that were "very friendly, very amicable," Aidala adds, pointing to texts and emails that they wrote to him. They apparently wrote "miss you" and "love you" to Weinstein after these alleged crimes took place.
"They're asking you to make sense of things that don't make sense," he tells the jury.
Weinstein accusers 'tried to cut the line,' defense claims
Wednesday 23 April 2025 18:03
,
Mike Bedigan
Aidala tells the majority-female jury that Weinstein’s accusers had attempted to “cut the line” with their careers in the industry.
“They fooled around with him consensually. Jessica [Mann] fooled around with him probably more times than she can count," he says.
In Hollywood, there was the casting couch. For these three women, "the casting couch was not a crime scene,” Aidala says. “Was it immoral? 100%."
These women "tried to cut the line, they tried to take a shortcut... There's a lot of real estate between immorality and criminality.”
Weinstein hailed as 'greatest movie exec of his generation' by defense attorney
Wednesday 23 April 2025 17:58
,
Mike Bedigan
In his statement Aidala waxes lyrical about Weinstein, dropping some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Gwyneth Paltrow and Meryl Streep.
"Although he doesn't look like George Clooney or Leonardo DiCaprio or Brad Pitt, you'll hear in their words how he's charismatic and generous,” he says.
"A real argument can be made that he was the greatest movie executive, at the very least, of his generation." Weinstein has been thanked at the Academy Awards as many times as God and Steven Spielberg, he adds.
"The charged crimes are minutes. The witnesses want you to read a page of that book...For context, you need to read the whole book. We want you to read the whole book and watch the whole movie," Aidala says.
Each of the witnesses were "doing fine in their own right....They're all good. And then through different circumstances, they meet Harvey Weinstein. According to them and according to us, he is a man who can make dreams come true."
The accusers all all realized Weinstein had the key to get them into the room, Aidala says, adding the that they were “flirtatious.” "They wanted him. He could change the trajectory of their lives."
Weinstein's defense begins opening statements
Wednesday 23 April 2025 17:52
,
Mike Bedigan
Arthur Aidala, Weinstein's defense attorney, started off his testimony by emphasizing that opening statements are not evidence or facts.
"There's common sense and then there's something that just doesn't seem right to me. Their evidence just doesn't seem right." That's reasonable doubt, he said.
"Folks, after you hear all the evidence, their case is going to fall flat on its face," he adds.
Prosecution's opening statement concludes
Wednesday 23 April 2025 17:30
,
Mike Bedigan
The prosecution has concluded it’s opening statements.
This case is about "one of the most powerful men in show business,” Lucey said. She added that Weinstein was so used to getting what he wanted, "he was incapable of taking 'no' for an answer.”
There will now be a 10 minute recess before the defense makes its opening remarks.
Weinstein told accuser 'you owe me one more time' – prosecutors
Wednesday 23 April 2025 17:25
,
Kelly Rissman
Lucey described the accusations of actress Jessica Mann.
During one of the alleged encounters, after Mann resisted Weinstein purportedly told her "you owe me one more time."
He grabbed her by her ankles, spread her legs, and put his mouth on her vagina, Lucey said. She did not move and stared at the blank TV screen.
The incident left her with scratch marks on the inside of her legs. Weinstein later apologized and told her "you're just so attractive that I just couldn't help myself,” Lucey said.
Who is Kaja Sokola?
Wednesday 23 April 2025 16:59
,
Mike Bedigan
Kaja Sokola is the third woman bringing forward allegations in Weinstein's retrial. She did not testify in the previous trial.
Sokola was 16 at the time that she alleges Weinstein sexually assaulted her and is reportedly the youngest accuser to speak out against her.
She later settled with Disney, Bob Weinstein and Miramax for $3 million for what allegedly happened when she was a teenager.
Born in Poland, Sokola was a former model who came to New York in 2002 to pursue a career in acting.
She is now is an advocate and producer and still lives in the city.
Weinstein told separate accuser 'this is what happens in the industry'
Wednesday 23 April 2025 16:51
,
Mike Bedigan
Lucey went on to describe the story of Kaja Sokola, who grew up in Poland and was 16 years old when she met Weinstein in new York City in 2002.
Within a few days of arriving, the teen met Weinstein and had a brief conversation and exchanged contact info. "Are you interested in being in the movies?" Weinstein reportedly asked her.
His team reached out to her to discuss her acting potential and a car was sent to pick her up, Lucey said, and she followed Weinstein into an apartment.
"This is what happens in the industry. You have to be comfortable removing your clothes," Weinstein had allegedly told her. He then shuffled her into the bathroom, put his hands on her chest, slid off his underwear, and puts her hand on his penis, Lucey told jurors.
After he purportedly told her: "See it wasn't so bad? You've got to work on your stubbornness.”
"This changed Kaia in ways she's still dealing with today," the prosecutor said.
'The score was Harvey Weinstein - everything, Mimi Haleyi - zero'
Wednesday 23 April 2025 16:46
,
Mike Bedigan
After the alleged encounter Haleyi – who was in the U.S. on a visitor’s visa at the time – decided not to report the incident to the police.
She tried her best to move on and to bury her feelings and to put the attack out of her mind, Lucey said, and did not go to the movie premiere.
Another time, at a hotel in lower Manhattan, "she will tell you she doesn't remember much about this incident but the defendant ordering her to get undressed and get on the bed,” Lucey said, adding that the two had had vaginal intercourse and Weinstein had called her degrading names.
She still would reach out on occasion for referrals for opportunities but never worked at the Weinstein Company again.
"The score was Harvey Weinstein - everything, Mimi Haleyi - zero," Lucey said.
Prosecutors reference account of Weinstein accuser
Wednesday 23 April 2025 16:41
,
Kelly Rissman
Lucey made reference to the claims of Weinstein accuser Mimi" Haleyi.
After working at Project Runway, which The Weinstein Company produced, before being invited to Paris by the mogul.
She declined, but she quickly realized ‘no’ wasn't really an answer for Weinstein, Lucey said. He kept calling her and even "forced his way into” her NYC apartment to get her to come to Paris.
"I know your reputation," Weinstein reportedly said. From that, she gathered he left clearly upset and she feared she had ruined any chance at a professional relationship."
In 2006, Lucey said, Weinstein sent a car to pick her up for a movie premiere and later started kissing and trying to grope her. She pushed him away and told her she wasn't interested in anything romantic and physical, Lucey said.
Weinstein "didn't take no for an answer. Defendant pulled Mimi toward him as she repeatedly pulled away. But it did not work. He pushed her into a bedroom."
"He put his weight on top of her and held her down." She kept trying to get up and even insisted that she was on her period, but Weinstein repeatedly "ignored" her and "feared there was no way out and that he might even get more violent."
Opening statements begin
Wednesday 23 April 2025 16:20
,
Kelly Rissman
In her opening statement, Shannon Lucey, assistant district attorney, says Weinstein used “dream opportunities as weapons.”
"I just find you so attractive. I couldn't resist. I couldn't resist. I could not take no for an answer," she began. "Harvey Weinstein... hollywood gatekepper... held power for 30 years in that industry."
"He held countless meetings in hotel rooms with actors, models, producers, assistants. Weinstein had enormous control over those working in TV and film because he determined who was in and out."
"He used those dream opportunities as weapons"
In pictures: Harvey Weinstein in court
Wednesday 23 April 2025 16:15
,
Mike Bedigan
Jury members entering court
Wednesday 23 April 2025 15:50
,
Mike Bedigan
The jury is entering the court.
Judge Curtis Farber is scolding the jury to make sure everyone comes on time in the future...
Opening statements should be starting shortly.
Wheelchair-bound Weinstein arrives in court
Wednesday 23 April 2025 15:39
,
Mike Bedigan
Harvey Weinstein has arrived in court, and has been wheeled in in a wheelchair.
It’s understood that this morning’s proceedings were delayed in starting after one juror was late.
All 12 are now here.
Harvey Weinstein: The #MeToo movement’s most notorious villain heads back to court for retrial
Wednesday 23 April 2025 15:35
,
Mike Bedigan
Harvey Weinstein is heading back to court in New York — a year after an appeals court threw out the conviction of the most famous bad man of the #MeToo era.
Has the movement survived? asks Kelly Rissman
Harvey Weinstein's health issues
Wednesday 23 April 2025 15:25
,
Mike Bedigan
Ahead of his retrial Harvey Weinstein was granted a minor victory after a judge ruled he can spend the remainder of it in a hospital rather than Rikers Island.
The 73-year-old has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, diabetes mellitus, extensive coronary artery disease, angina, diffuse moderate coronary artery disease, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid issues and obesity, in addition to several other health issues.
In September, he was hospitalized for emergency heart surgery and the next month he was diagnosed with cancer.
Weinstein will be transferred to Bellevue Hospital in Kips Bay, where he will remain for the duration of his retrial on rape accusations.
Recap: Timeline of Weinstein's legal battles
Wednesday 23 April 2025 14:40
,
Rhian Lubin
In case you need a recap, here is a timeline of the disgraced movie mogul’s legal battles, spanning 2017 – present day.
Watch: Live scenes from outside the courthouse as proceedings due to begin shortly
Wednesday 23 April 2025 14:40
,
Rhian Lubin, Kelly Rissman
Proceedings will begin shortly as the court is being seated at the moment, Kelly Rissman reports from the courthouse.
Gloria Allred, who has represented multiple women in their cases against Weinstein, told The Independent that she is feeling “positive” about today.
Speaking of the #MeToo movement, Allred previously told The Independent:
“The herstory of the #MeToo movement and the women's movement has always been two steps forward and one step backwards. So we cannot expect to always be successful.”
Stakes are high for the future of the #MeToo movement
Wednesday 23 April 2025 14:15
,
Kelly Rissman
The Independent’s Kelly Rissman reports live from court.
I’m at the New York criminal courthouse in downtown Manhattan where opening statements are set to begin in a few hours.
It’s a quiet morning at the courthouse so far. Just a handful of members of the public are waiting to enter the courtroom, hoping to see through what began eight years ago when the film mogul first faced #MeToo allegations.
Weinstein, who’s being kept in the hospital for the duration of the trial, will likely never see life outside of prison regardless of this trial’s outcome.
He has yet to start serving his 16-year sentence after being convicted in Los Angeles.
Still, the stakes are high for the future of the movement. Lindsay Goldbrum, an attorney for the new anonymous victim, has said: “More than seven years after #MeToo, this case will test how far we’ve advanced in our collective understanding of sexual assault, power dynamics, and what it means to be a survivor.”
Weinstein allowed to stay in hospital during the retrial
Wednesday 23 April 2025 14:00
,
Ariana Baio
Harvey Weinstein was granted a minor legal victory last week in his Manhattan retrial when a judge agreed to let the disgraced film mogul spend the remainder of his trial in a hospital rather than Rikers Island.
Lawyers for Weinstein had asked Judge Curtis Farber to allow their client to remain in the hospital due to his extensive health issues. Farber agreed, saying “to not do so could lead to exacerbation of and further serious medical conditions, and possibly death.”
Court documents indicate Weinstein, 73, has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, diabetes mellitus, extensive coronary artery disease, angina, diffuse moderate coronary artery disease, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid issues and obesity, in addition to several other health issues.
Weinstein will be transferred to Bellevue Hospital in Kips Bay, where he will remain for the duration of his retrial on rape accusations.
Read the full story.
Who is on the jury?
Wednesday 23 April 2025 13:45
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AP
Drawn from Manhattan’s jury pool, the 12 members of the main jury for the New York retrial include a physics researcher, a photographer, a dietician, a therapist, an investment bank software engineer and a fire safety director.
Others have experience in real estate, TV commercials, debt collection, social work and other fields.
One has a high school equivalency degree. Others have master’s degrees. Some have served as jurors or grand jurors multiple times before; others, never.
Hundreds of other potential jurors were excused for reasons ranging from language barriers to strong opinions about Weinstein — “the first word that came in my head was ‘pig,’” said one man who was soon let go.
Those chosen were quizzed about their backgrounds, life experiences and various other points that could relate to their ability to be fair and impartial about the highly publicized case.
Weinstein allegations set off a a cultural bomb across the movie industry
Wednesday 23 April 2025 13:30
,
Kelly Rissman
Harvey Weinstein’s long-awaited New York retrial began with jury selection last week. Now the 73-year-old former movie mogul will face sex crimes charges in court in a major test for the enduring power of the #MeToo movement.
When New York prosecutors first arrested Weinstein in 2018, the stories of his accusers not only set off a cultural bomb across the movie industry but also led to systemic change in politics, sports, and other industries for good.
That momentum was buoyed in 2020 when a jury convicted Weinstein of sexual assault and rape — only to sink last year when an appeals court threw out that conviction.
As the Weinstein retrial gets underway in New York City — with an additional sex crimes charge added to the original two, all of which he’s pleaded not guilty to — so too does the chance for women to have their day in court, again.
Kelly Rissman looks at what the retrial means for the #MeToo movement.
Weinstein returns to same courthouse as first trial five years ago
Wednesday 23 April 2025 13:17
,
Rhian Lubin
Harvey Weinstein is set to return to the same courthouse where he was tried five years ago.
A female-majority jury will hear opening arguments today in the retrial that could take six weeks.
This time, the jury is made up of seven women and five men — unlike the seven-man, five-woman panel that convicted him in 2020.
Stay with us as we bring you live updates from the court.
