‘Look at him, he is not Brad Pitt’: Harvey Weinstein defence argues accusers experienced ‘transactional sex’ with him

The opening arguments in the Los Angeles demo against convicted sexual predator previous Hollywood mogul began on Monday. The disgraced producer was sensationally introduced down in 2017 when in exposés in New Yorker and the New York Instances, more than 80 girls accused him of rape, sexual assault and sexual misconduct. Following remaining arrested in 2018, he was charged with rape and other offences. In 2020, in a New York trial, he was sentenced to 23 yrs in prison. Now, in the LA trial, he faces 11 far more fees, including rape and sexual battery. In the opening arguments, Weinstein’s defence aimed to discredit in progress the girls who are going to testify from him.

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What did Weinstein’s lawyer say?

Mark Werksman mentioned that there is no evidence versus Weinstein and the women’s testimonies ought to not be taken significantly as they are actresses who will enjoy a position in the witness stand and spout a “firehose of untrue and unprovable allegations”. And the work, he stated, will be to in shape the narrative of the #MeToo movement.

The defence argument continued by indicating that each and every sexual face of the gals with Weinstein was consensual and some thing that they are ashamed about so they are lying now.

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“Search at my client. He’s not Brad Pitt or George Clooney. Do you consider these beautiful girls had sex with him since he’s very hot? No, it’s for the reason that he’s powerful,” he stated even though pointing at Weinstein.

He continued by stating that “back in the day” intercourse in exchange of roles, which he termed “transactional sex”, was prevalent.

“Sex was a commodity for loaded and impressive men, like my shopper,” he said, in advance of including, “It may possibly have been unpleasant, and now embarrassing. [But] anyone did it. He did it. They did it.”

He rued the actuality that the #MeToo movement was “Hollywood’s Chernobyl” that has turned Weinstein into a “smouldering radioactive” bad guy. 

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“They have to lie to on their own, to you, to this court docket. Their hypocrisy will be on comprehensive display screen,” he mentioned.

What did the prosectors say?

The prosecution’s argument was not dissimilar from what we have study about Weinstein’s predatory ways ever considering the fact that the allegations initial came to light-weight five a long time back. They stated Weinstein applied his electricity and affect to prey and sexually assault gals and used enterprise conferences as a deal with.