Weinstein’s lawyer asks governor’s wife to act out a ‘fake orgasm’

‘It was to expedite his experience so I could get out of there ... he had already raped me’

CALIFORNIA’S first lady was asked on Tuesday to show a court how she faked an orgasm to more quickly end her alleged rape by disgraced Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein, leaving the former actress in tears.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who is married to Gavin Newsom, governor of California, testified at Weinstein’s sexual abuse trial in Los Angeles. He is already serving a 23-year sentence in New York for rape and sexual assault.

Mark Werksman, defending, asked Mrs Siebel Newsom to show how she “indicated her pleasure” to “expedite” the alleged incident at a Beverly Hills hotel in 2005. She responded: “This is not When Harry Met Sally. I’m not doing that,” referring to a scene in the 1989 movie in which Meg Ryan’s character faked an orgasm in a restaurant.

Mrs Siebel Newsom had already testified on Monday about how her encounter with Weinstein was supposed to be a business meeting but quickly turned into something else when he changed out of his suit into a robe and started to “manipulate” and “threaten” her.

She found herself unexpectedly alone with Weinstein in a suite at the Peninsula Hotel, where she had agreed to join him for a meeting.

She said she assumed others would be present and they would talk about her career. Mrs Siebel Newsom said that Weinstein emerged from the bathroom wearing a robe with nothing underneath and began groping her while he masturbated. She added that she faked an orgasm to end her ordeal.

“It was to expedite his experience so I could get out of there,” Mrs Siebel Newsom, who is now a successful documentary maker, told the court.

“He wasn’t having sex with me ... he had already raped me. This is so gross. I’m sorry.”

The 48-year-old is the fourth woman to testify in Los Angeles against Weinstein. The judge on Tuesday agreed to drop four counts, after prosecutors announced that a fifth accuser would no longer be testifying.

Weinstein is now facing seven remaining counts involving Mrs Siebel Newsom and three other women who have not waived their right to anonymity.

If convicted on all counts, Weinstein, 70, faces a maximum sentence of 65 years to life in prison.

The trial continues.