Miriam Haley, one of the key accusers in the retrial of Harvey Weinstein, delivered powerful and emotional testimony on Wednesday as she took the stand for the second time — recounting in detail the alleged sexual assault she says took place in Weinstein’s Manhattan apartment in 2006.
Haley Describes Traumatic Encounter in Weinstein’s Apartment
Haley, a former television production assistant, testified that she met Weinstein at the 2004 premiere of “The Aviator” in London, and later received help from him in landing a role on “Project Runway.” She said the two stayed in contact, but the relationship didn’t become sexual until the night of the alleged rape in July 2006.
According to Haley, Weinstein invited her to his New York apartment after arranging for her to attend the “Clerks II” premiere in Los Angeles. Once inside, she said they sat together on the couch before he suddenly lunged at her and attempted to kiss her.
“He held me down,” Haley testified, adding that Weinstein forced her onto a bed and raped her despite her protests.
Haley Claims Weinstein Ignored Her Pleas
One of the most chilling parts of Haley’s testimony came when she recalled telling Weinstein she was on her period and had a tampon in — to which she said he forcibly removed it and performed oral sex on her.
“I realized I’m getting raped,” Haley told the jury through tears. “I just decided to check out and endure it.”
History with Weinstein and Previous Testimony
This marks the second time Haley has testified against the former Hollywood mogul. Her previous testimony helped secure a conviction in Weinstein’s 2020 trial, where he was found guilty of sexually assaulting her and another woman, actress Jessica Mann.
However, those convictions were later overturned by an appeals court, which ruled that Weinstein’s constitutional rights were violated during the original trial.
Retrial Begins Amid Renewed Scrutiny
Now, prosecutors are mounting a retrial in New York, and Haley is one of three women testifying against Weinstein. The retrial comes as public scrutiny of Weinstein’s actions — and the broader #MeToo movement — continues to shape the entertainment industry.
Weinstein, who is already serving a prison sentence for a separate rape conviction in California, has pleaded not guilty in the current case.
What’s Next in the Retrial?
The retrial is expected to last several weeks, with testimonies from multiple women painting a picture of Weinstein’s alleged history of abuse, manipulation, and coercion.
The case is being watched closely as a critical test of the legal system’s handling of sexual misconduct cases involving powerful men, especially after the reversal of the original verdict.
