Harvey Weinstein's Attorneys Say "Transactional Sex" Was Once Normal In Hollywood And Actresses Chose To Have Sex With Him "Because He's Powerful"
The #MeToo movement erupted when multiple women, including Rose McGowan, came forward to announce that they were sexually assaulted by renowned Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. However, Weinstein's lawyers are fighting to defend him in court by claiming that all sexual encounters were consensual.
Last year Rose McGowan pointed to a connection between Harvey Weinstein and California governor Gavin Newsom, alleging that Newsom attempted to cover up for Weinstein's sexual abuse of women. However, in a lawsuit brought against Weinstein, prosecuting attorneys accused the defendant of sexually assaulting Newsom's wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom in 2005. Weinstein's attorney Mark Werksman claimed that this accusation was rooted in fantasy and told the jury that it was common for "transactional sex" to take place in Hollywood amongst actresses and men in power.
Harvey Weinstein's Attorneys Say "Transactional Sex" Was Once Normal in Hollywood and Actresses Chose to Have Sex With Him "Because He's Powerful"
Jennifer Siebel Newsom is an actress and director who was referred to as Jane Doe #4 in the trial against Weinstein, and she's been outspoken about sexual abuse against women. However, Werksman pointed out that in 2007, two years after the alleged rape, she attended a party hosted by Weinstein with her husband, who was the mayor of San Francisco at the time.
“She brought her husband to meet and party with her rapist. Who does that?” Werksman said. “He took money from his wife’s rapist for his political campaigns.”
Additionally, Werksman said that all the sex Weinstein had with actresses was completely consensual and "sex was a commodity" before #MeToo became a movement. He added that the jury was going to hear a “firehose of false and unprovable allegations” from women who willingly chose to sleep with Weinstein in order to get ahead in their career.
“Look at my client,” Werksman said about Weinstein. “He’s not Brad Pitt or George Clooney. Do you think these beautiful women had sex with him because he’s hot? No, it’s because he’s powerful.”
He said that the "transactional sex" may have been "unpleasant" and "now embarrassing" but "everyone did it," including Weinstein and the women who accused him of rape. Weinstein's attorneys say the women coming forward against Weinstein are nothing more than actresses who are looking for a payday.
“The sequel to the casting couch is the #MeToo trial. They will play the part of the damsel in distress with this beast," Werksman said to the jury. “They have to lie to themselves, to you, to this court. Their hypocrisy will be on full display.”
Although prosecutors came forward with stories of oral rape and groping, Weinstein's attorneys continue to claim that there is no DNA evidence or rape kit to prove that these events took place.
The court case will continue this week, including witnesses testifying on the stand.