Final statements start in Harvey Weinstein’s trial for rape in Manhattan

Weinstein’s Defense Claims of Victimhood

Harvey Weinstein, the controversial film producer, has become emblematic of cancellation culture, according to his defense attorney’s impassioned remarks during the closing arguments of his retrial. The attorney asserted that Weinstein is, in fact, the victim, countering claims made by a woman who accused him of rape.

“These women exploit their youth, beauty, and charm to manipulate him,” the attorney argued, suggesting that Weinstein is accustomed to such treatment.

“It may sound outlandish, but he’s the one being taken advantage of,” he continued.

In an extensive three-hour presentation to the judge, the defense lawyer depicted Weinstein’s interactions with his three accusers. He described the alleged victim as someone with “a broken dream” who aimed to “cut off the line.”

The lawyer’s performance seemed to walk a fine line between absurdity and seriousness. At one point, he made fun of one of the women while also sharing personal anecdotes to dissuade her from recalling past experiences related to a particular film.

According to the attorney, “They needed a poster boy, a quintessential sinner of the MeToo movement,” referring to the prosecution’s decision to retry the case.

He remarked, “Five years ago, they tried this, and now it’s happening again.”

The defense made a pointed comment about Weinstein’s physical condition, referring to him, confined to a large wheelchair, as a “fat guy” who would struggle in a game of Twister.

“Some of the testimonies from these women seem like something out of ‘Cirque du Soleil,'” he claimed.

The lawyer even posed a bizarre hypothetical scenario involving glass pieces falling into his grandmother’s “Sunday Sauce,” tying it back to whether the prosecutor’s claims held merit, humorously questioning if his grandmother was aware of the risks when serving pasta.

“If there are any doubts about his life or their claims, you need to disregard them,” he urged the judge.

Assistant district attorney Nicole Brunberg strongly countered the defense’s upbeat commentary, reminding the court that over 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct, emphasizing his “power and influence” over the victims.

“This isn’t a game of courtship, as Mr. Adara suggests,” Blumberg asserted. “This isn’t just a deal gone wrong; unless you consider the defendant’s behavior a clear representation of rape.”

Blumberg further stated, “He was not concerned with their careers; he was solely focused on their bodies.”

Weinstein, aged 73, who insists he is innocent, could face up to 25 years behind bars on two counts of first-degree criminal sexual acts, alongside other charges related to third-degree rape.

Though he was originally found guilty in 2022, New York’s highest court overturned that decision last year.

In a separate case in California, Weinstein was also convicted of rape after a model testified that he confronted her outside her hotel room during an Italian film festival in 2013.