Weinstein's Lawyers Question Accuser Sokola About Her Diary and Ambitions

During Tuesday’s cross-examination of Kaja Sokola—one of the three complainants in the ongoing trial against Harvey Weinstein—the defending attorneys aimed to utilize a diary she maintained in 2015 as evidence contradicting her testimony.

When the journal appeared, Sokola mentioned it was connected to the treatment she received for alcohol addiction and was prematurely disclosed by her sister from Poland following a subpoena directed at her. This prompted Sokola to label its release as "highly inappropriate" and "unethical."

Sokola exclaimed loudly, 'I am not on trial here!'

She remarked with curiosity about how you came across this item," noting that it was from Poland. 'It has been ages since I last saw one of these,' she added.

While he called it "intrusive," Judge Curtis Farber allowed the use of the journal, which had been obtained by the defense team, in limited scope, after a morning and post-lunch discussion as well as repeated objections from prosecutors and Sokola herself. Sokola was questioned about the fact that in a chart listing people that had wronged her as well as the related action, she had listed Weinstein's name and wrote that he had promised to help her but did not, and did not list any sexual assault.

Sokola confirmed that it was accurate but was interrupted from continuing when she spoke louder.

Previously, Sokola stated that she initially encountered Weinstein when she was 16 years old and working as a model in New York.

The encounter involving Weinstein reportedly occurred in 2006 during a luncheon at the Tribeca Grand Hotel. The meal included Weinstein and Sokola’s sister. At the time, Sokola was just 19 years old and organized this gathering to demonstrate to her sibling that she had potential as an actress by having them meet with Weinstein. Following their short repast, Sokola mentioned that Weinstein invited her upstairs under the pretext of reviewing a script but instead pinned her down on the bed against her will and carried out forced oral contact.

She is among the three complainants giving testimony in this case and is the second to speak, following Miriam Haley, who claims that he coerced her into performing oral sex at his flat in 2006. The accusations also include those made by aspiring actress Jessica Mann, who states that Weinstein sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan hotel room back in 2013.

Sokola similarly recounted an alleged sexual interaction involving Weinstein when she was 16 years old. She stated that he touched her vagina and guided her hand onto his penis for masturbation during this event. Although this particular instance is not part of the current charges, Sokola initiated a civil lawsuit against Bob Weinstein, who is Weinstein’s brother, along with Disney and Miramax in 2019. Eventually, she secured a $3 million settlement connected to these allegations.

On Friday, Weinstein's legal defenders questioned Sokola during her testimony, attempting to suggest that her asylum bid was behind her accusations against Weinstein and that she had willingly participated in sexual activities with him as part of her professional aspirations.

Lifting her voice and breaking down in tears during testimony last week, Sokola vehemently denied having any consensual connection with Weinstein. She expressed her desire for him to honestly assess whether she possessed potential as an actress.

“I encountered someone who was atop the world back then,” Sokola stated. “I wasn’t after wealth nor did I seek any easy ways out. What mattered to me was his sincerity about it.” He continued, “Our connection wasn’t based on business exchanges; instead, I approached our interaction from a strictly professional standpoint.”

She mentioned that he talked to her about my potentially successful movie career," she stated. "Sadly, he wasn’t being honest.

Michael Cibella, Weinstein's defense attorney who conducted the cross-examination, frequently highlighted her ambitions to act and referred to past interviews she gave to NewsNation and Rolling Stone Regarding a previous event involving Weinstein, during which she hadn’t brought up the alleged charge, along with the detail that she was offered a cameo role. Nanny Diaries From Weinstein (although the segment was removed from the movie) and had gotten a recommendation letter from an associate of Weinstein for the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute following the supposed incident, though she had never actually joined.

On Tuesday, he highlighted outreach efforts from Sokola to Weinstein in 2010 and 2011 concerning possible scripts and requests for meetings regarding business prospects. He also brought up inconsistencies within her account about Weinstein’s alleged coercive behavior during the specific event in question.

The previous week, when questioned by Cibella, Sokola, who escaped from her spouse in Poland, stated that she had applied for a U visa. This visa type permits individuals who have been victims of crimes, reported these incidents, and assisted prosecutors to reside and be employed within the U.S. for as long as four years, and joining this legal proceeding might aid her cause.

Cibella highlighted that Sokola obtained $475,000 as part of a settlement linked to the 2016 incident involving Weinstein towards late 2021 or early 2022. Earlier, Sokola had stated under oath that she was in an abusive marriage in Poland and required funds to escape the situation. Around this period, she traveled to New York. When questioned by Cibella about these matters, Sokola deflected, suggesting she needed the money for both fleeing the country and covering her monthly rental expenses in New York, which amounted to $11,000 per month. Additionally, Cibella noted that Sokola initially spoke out against accepting the settlement fund due to concerns over releasing Weinstein from future civil actions; however, she later changed her stance on this issue.

Sokola mentioned that he traveled to New York and leased an apartment since he was handling two full-time positions and making the equivalent of $15,000 per month.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

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• Harvey Weinstein's Lawyers Seek Mistrial as One of His Accusers Takes the Stand