USA TODAY International Edition
Weinstein accuser Mann breaks down sobbing
NEW YORK – Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein’s sex- crimes trial entered its dramatic fifth week as defense lawyers continued cross- examining key accuser Jessica Mann, who left the courtroom sobbing inconsolably late Monday afternoon.
Mann, 34, took the stand Monday for a second day, wearing a cream- colored sweater and her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Throughout her cross- examination, one of Weinstein’s lawyers, Donna Rotunno, repeatedly asked the former actress why she continued sending friendly, seemingly loving emails to the ex- producer, even after he allegedly raped her in a New York City hotel room in March 2013.
Her testimony took an emotional turn Monday afternoon, when Rotunno asked Mann to read a spring 2014 email to her boyfriend at the time, identified in court as “Eddie.” In the email, she described a “controlling” relationship with Weinstein, calling him a father figure to her.
“I lived in fear of rejection. ... I found myself angry,” Mann wrote. “I finally broke out of a cycle of a relationship that was controlling.”
She continued by writing that “Harvey validated me in ways my parents never did. ... Harvey was my father’s age and he gave me all the validation I needed. I played into sexual dynamics simply to feel I would never be taken advantage of again.”
After she finished reading the email, Mann doubled over crying on the witness stand. The judge ordered a 10minute break; after which, she continued to cry uncontrollably, and the trial was dismissed for the day. Mann is expected to return to court Tuesday and cross- examination will resume.
Earlier Monday, Rotunno grilled Mann about an email she sent to Weinstein in 2014, asking if she could introduce him to her mom. Mann explained that she didn’t want to, but her mom was worried about her.
“My mother was pressuring me really hard to meet him,” said Mann, saying she never told her mom about the alleged rape and maintained it was a strictly “professional” relationship. But “my mother knew something was wrong.”
Rotunno accused Mann of “manipulating” Weinstein and accused her of only wanting the benefits of his Hollywood connections, to which Mann fired back that she “did not want him to hurt my career.”
At one point, Rotunno shot back: “You made a choice to have sexual encounters with Harvey Weinstein when you weren’t sexually attracted to him. ... You liked the parties and you liked the power.”
The defense attorney also questioned Mann about correspondences that gave Weinstein her new phone number and told him to get in touch.
One read: “I got a new number. Just wanted you to have it. Hope you are well and call me anytime, always good to hear your voice,” according to court papers.