Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers took aim at accuser Miriam Haley’s high-flying life, and her decision to seek out civil rights lawyer Gloria Allred, during her first day of cross-examination at the movie mogul’s sexual assault retrial in Manhattan.
Weinstein’s defense team painted Haley and two other accusers as money-hungry opportunists, with his lawyer Arthur Aidala contending in his opening argument they had “four million reasons” to lie.
On Thursday, defense lawyer Jennifer Bonjean zeroed in on Haley’s decision to seek out Allred — who represents victims in high-profile sexual misconduct cases — when several women came forward in 2017 accusing Weinstein of being a sexual predator.
“You didn’t call up the Victims Services Unit at the District Attorney’s Office. … Instead, you retained a civil attorney, correct?” Bonjean asked the 48-year-old former TV production assistant. Even after the D.A.’s office reached out, she took months to speak to them, Bonjean added, saying, “Instead, you did your press conference and went on some press appearances.”
Haley accused the fallen film producer of sexually assaulting her on July 10, 2006, pushing her onto a bed in his Soho loft and yanking out her tampon before forcibly performing oral sex on her. She also testified about a second unwanted encounter about two weeks later, in his room at the Tribeca Grand Hotel.
After news reports about Weinstein came out in October 2017, Haley said she wanted to make an anonymous statement, but soon decided to come out publicly, with Allred at her side.
But Bonjean suggested that Haley only started working with prosecutors so she could file a civil lawsuit.
“You did not come forward to the D.A.’s office to find justice for any other women. You did this so you could sue him,” she said, to which Haley responded, “No.”
Haley testified that she got $475,000 from a victims’ settlement fund in 2021 in exchange for dropping any civil claims, and that her taking the stand at the retrial does not affect that settlement.
Bonjean also grilled Haley on her travel history, plus her connections with A-listers like “SNL” producer Lorne Michaels and Paul McCartney, at one point asking her, “Who is Paul McCartney?” leading Haley to reply, “He was in the Beatles.”
Haley, who lived in London, testified that she worked as an assistant for TV producer Michael White, but she lost her job when White fell ill and closed his business in 2005.
Nevertheless, she traveled to Geneva, Paris, Buenos Aires, New York City, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Los Angeles, Palm Beach, the Kentucky Derby, Morocco and East Hampton.
“How did you manage all that wonderful travel given the financial hardships you were allegedly suffering?” Bonjean asked.
Haley said she had recently gotten an inheritance, and wasn’t paying rent because she was living with a friend in London.
Haley connected with Weinstein at Cannes, at an after-party for “The Aviator” premiere, and Weinstein asked her to meet him at Miramax’s offices at the Majestic Hotel in Cannes.
Haley said Weinstein asked for a massage at that meeting, and she rejected him, then left the hotel feeling humiliated. Still, she left with his number, and wound up getting some off-the-books work on “Project Runway.”
Bonjean pointed out that Haley did not bring a résumé and questioned why she thought one of the most powerful film producers in the world would consider her for a job.
“You were looking for a favor,” Bonjean said.
“I was looking for work,” Haley replied.
Haley also testified at Weinstein’s first Manhattan Supreme Court trial in 2020, which ended in his conviction on first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape charges.
The state’s highest court overturned that conviction in April 2024, ruling that the trial judge shouldn’t have allowed testimony from women accusing him of sexual assaults not covered by the charges against him.
The retrial covers separate allegations by Haley and aspiring actress Jessica Mann, as well as new allegations by a third woman, Polish model Kaja Sokola. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty.
Haley’s cross-examination continues Friday.
Originally Published: May 1, 2025 at 6:17 PM EDT
