Testimony was cut short after the first accuser broke down in tears on the stand.
“Each of these women came forward independent of each other, and none of them knew one another,” said prosecutor Paul Thompson, pointing to a presentation with photos of the women, in his opening statement.
Defense attorney Mark Werskman said in his opening statement that Weinstein’s accusers are lying. Two of the attacks are entirely made up, he argued, while the others were “transactional sex.” He said Siebel Newsom would “be just another bimbo who slept with Harvey Weinstein to get ahead in Hollywood” if she wasn’t married to the governor.
Siebel Newsom was caught off guard when Weinstein’s aides left the suite they held the meeting, Thompson told the jury. He said Weinstein subsequently made an advance, which Siebel Newsom declined. Then, he pushed her onto the bed, Thompson said.