‘Used unfettered power to sexually abuse women’: Harvey Weinstein’s rape retrial begins

In her opening statement, Lucey said “Harvey Weinstein had enormous control over those working in TV and film because he decided who was in and who was out. He had all the power, they had none,” Reuters reported.

Standing in his third trial in five years, Weinstein is accused of sexually harassing a former television production assistant, an aspiring actress and a model. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him and his lawyer cast doubts in court on the claims made by the three women.

Harvey Weinstein appears in state court in Manhattan in his retrial in New York. (Steven Hirsch /New York Post via AP, Pool)

The prosecutors have framed their arguments by portraying Weinstein as a serial predator who promised career growth in Hollywood to women, but ended up with them in hotel rooms and private apartments only to abuse and attack them.

However, Weinstein’s lawyer Arthur Aidala rejected the arguments and characterization of the film producer and claimed that he had “mutually beneficial” relationships with his accusers. Arthur told the jury that the prosecution’s case would “fall flat on its face” once the evidence is heard.

In the opening statement, Weinstein’s lawyer Arthur argued “They realized very quickly: Harvey Weinstein, he’s got the key to that room where they all want to go,” in reference to the career growth argument made by the prosecution.

Weinstein, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act and one count of third-degree rape, could face decades in jail if convicted in the case.