New York: Short Trial with Weinstein

The trial of former Hollywood film producer Weinstein in New York is progressing faster than expected. The accused definitely sees chances of success – also thanks to his aggressive lawyer.

By Peter Mücke, ARD-Studio New York

The media interest is huge. And the expectations are perhaps even higher: Because the Weinstein case got the global MeToo movement rolling. The trial against him means a lot to many, says actress Rose McGowan. Mostly for the women who broke the silence.

More than 80 women accuse the former king of Hollywood of sexual assault. But only two cases are actually being negotiated. And it depends on them whether Weinstein leaves the court in Manhattan as a free man or not.

Weinstein: Have good lawyers

Weinstein said he was confident when asked by a reporter. Because he has good lawyers. At the forefront is Donna Rotunno who specializes in cases involving men being accused of sexual assault.

“I’m not the moral police. And neither is the jury. The jury has to decide whether Harvey Weinstein has committed a crime for which he will be in prison for the rest of his life.”

The Chicago lawyer is known in the industry as a “bulldog”. And the 44-year-old lived up to this top name in the first few weeks of negotiations. She cross-examined the witnesses for hours. Your message: Weinstein had the key to the dream Hollywood castle that everyone wanted to go into.

“It’s a decision when I expose myself to a certain situation as a woman. And if something happens by mutual agreement, then I can’t change my mind later and say that I really didn’t want that.”

Emails are supposed to prove Weinstein’s innocence

Among other things, e-mails – some of which were written long after the attacks – are supposed to prove that – as Weinstein has always maintained – it was a matter of consensual sexual contact. For Gloria Allred, who represents one of the witnesses, a transparent strategy:

“It’s all about blaming women. Victims are turned into perpetrators.”

It is not uncommon for victims of sexual violence to still have contact with their tormentors, an expert testified during the trial.

Expert disagrees

In addition to the two alleged victims, the prosecution also named four other witnesses, whose cases are not the subject of the hearing, but are intended to show that there has been a pattern for decades how the powerful Weinstein made women compliant, forced them to have sex and later to remain silent brought.

“There are many reasons why these women didn’t make this public earlier. Perhaps they were afraid of professional disadvantage. Or that the police wouldn’t believe them if they accused such a rich, powerful and prominent man.”

In the end, the jury has to decide. And the responsible judge James Burke warned at the beginning of the hearing: “This process is not a referendum on the MeToo movement”. Despite the great expectations.