Witness Mimi Haley arrives to testify in the case against former film producer Harvey Weinstein at state court in Manhattan, Thursday, May 1, 2025 in New York. (Michael M. Santiago/Pool Photo via AP)2025-05-02T16:15:44Z NEW YORK (AP) One of Harvey Weinstein s accusers broke down in tears and cursed on the witness stand Friday as a defense lawyer questioned her account of the former Hollywood mogul forcing oral sex on her nearly two decades ago.He was the one who raped me, not the other way around, Miriam Haley told jurors.That is for the jury to decide, Weinstein lawyer Jennifer Bonjean responded.No, its not for the jury to decide. Its my experience. And he did that to me, Haley said, using expletives as tears began streaming down her face.Judge Curtis Farber halted questioning and sent jurors on a break. Haley, her eyes red and face glistening, did not look at Weinstein as she left the witness stand.Haley, 48, was testifying for a fourth day at Weinsteins rape trial. Questioning resumed after the break, with Haley composed but occasional flickers of frustration in her voice. Bonjean continued to press her about specifics she did and did not recall from the alleged July 2006 assault and about its aftermath, including a time a couple of weeks later when Haley has said she had sex with Weinstein that she didnt want but didnt fight. You didnt say, Like, hey, what you did to me the other night wasnt cool? Bonjean asked.No, said Haley, reiterating that she went numb during the hotel encounter.Weinstein is charged with sexually assaulting Haley and another woman and raping a third. He denies the allegations and his lawyers argue that his accusers had consensual encounters with a then-powerful movie producer who could advance their careers. Haley, who has also gone by the name Mimi Haleyi, is the first accuser to testify at the retrial, which is happening after an appeals court overturned Weinsteins conviction at an earlier trial. Haleys testimony at that 2020 trial took just one day.Haley alleges that Weinstein assaulted her after inviting her to his apartment to, as she put it, just stop by and say hi. She had worked briefly as a production assistant on the Weinstein-produced TV show Project Runway, and his company had booked her a flight to Los Angeles the next day attend a movie premiere. She testified earlier in the week that Weinstein backed her into a bedroom and pushed her onto a bed, holding her down as she tried to get up and pleaded: No, no its not going to happen.Haley and two of her friends testified that she told them soon after that Weinstein had sexually assaulted her. She maintains she was never interested in any sexual or romantic relationship with Weinstein, despite his past overtures, but wanted his help getting jobs in show business.Zeroing in on the alleged assault, Bonjean on Friday questioned why Haley would agree to go to Weinsteins apartment after what the witness described as previous bizarre and overwhelming behavior, including his barging into her home weeks earlier as he sought to persuade her to go to Paris with him.Haley said she didnt have a reason to turn down Weinsteins request to stop by his apartment, thought it would be impolite to refuse, and didnt fear for her safety, even after his earlier behavior. Haley grew emotional as Bonjean asked just how Haleys clothes came off before Weinstein allegedly yanked out a tampon and performed oral sex on her. Haley said Weinstein took off her clothing, but she didnt recall the details: I was, you know, busy struggling, she explained.You removed your clothes, right? Bonjean soon asked, leading to the fractious and tearful exchange.Earlier, Bonjean had focused on Haleys trip to Los Angeles at the expense of Weinsteins then-company. Did you just think he was just being generous? the defense attorney asked.Haley said she accepted partly because she wanted to get back in his good books after turning down the earlier invitation to Paris, and the Los Angeles trip seemed more appropriate because shed be traveling on her own and could also visit a friend there.You wanted to appease him, make him happy, make him like you? Bonjean asked. Well, that, too, Haley said.Weinsteins retrial includes charges related to Haley and another accuser from the original trial, Jessica Mann, who alleges a 2013 rape. Hes also being tried, for the first time, for allegedly forcing oral sex on former model Kaja Sokola in 2006. Mann and Sokola also are expected to testify.The Associated Press generally does not name people who allege they have been sexually assaulted unless they give permission for their names to be used. Haley, Mann and Sokola have done so. MICHAEL R. SISAK Sisak is an Associated Press reporter covering law enforcement and courts in New York City, including former President Donald Trumps criminal and civil cases and problems plaguing the federal prison system. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site