Accusations and Defense Strategies
Prosecutors detailed three allegations against Harvey Weinstein, including a new accusation from Kaja Sokola, who alleges forcible oral sex in 2006. Weinstein is also accused of raping Jessica Mann and forcing oral sex on Miriam Haley and Sokola.
Weinstein's defense argues that all encounters were consensual and part of mutually beneficial relationships, dismissing the allegations as part of a non-criminal "casting couch" culture.
Legal Proceedings and Cultural Context
The retrial, occurring five years after the original trial, includes a majority-female jury and new legal teams. It addresses both the original charges and an additional accusation from Sokola, reflecting a changed cultural moment since the #MeToo movement's peak.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who inherited the case, emphasizes Weinstein's exploitation of his Hollywood influence to prey on women. The retrial's atmosphere contrasts with the original, lacking the intense media and public scrutiny witnessed in 2017.