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In a significant moment during Harvey Weinstein’s New York retrial, Miriam Haley, one of the key accusers, took the stand once again — this time with visible emotion as she revisited the traumatic events she claims occurred nearly two decades ago.
According to TMZ, Haley, a former television production assistant, testified on Wednesday about the alleged rape she says took place in Weinstein’s Manhattan apartment in 2006. Her testimony marks her second time recounting the incident in court, having previously testified during the disgraced film producer’s 2020 criminal trial.
Haley testified that Weinstein invited her to his apartment after she attended the Clerks II premiere in Los Angeles — tickets he had given her. Once inside his Manhattan residence, she recalled sitting beside him on a sofa. According to her, the mood abruptly shifted when Weinstein allegedly lunged at her, tried to kiss her, and forced her onto his bed — where the alleged rape occurred.
She told the court that she attempted to deter him by telling him she was on her period and wearing a tampon. Haley claimed Weinstein ignored her, removed her tampon, and proceeded to perform oral sex against her will. Through tears, she reportedly recalled the moment she realized what was happening, saying she “just decided to check out and endure it” because she felt powerless.
Haley also recounted her earlier encounters with Weinstein, saying they first met in 2004 at The Aviator premiere in London. She said he later used his influence to help her land a job as a production assistant on Project Runway. While their interactions remained professional initially, she testified that the dynamic shifted dramatically during the alleged assault in 2006.
Haley is one of three women testifying in Weinstein’s ongoing retrial in New York. Her emotional testimony follows up on her earlier account from the 2020 trial, where Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting her, along with actress Jessica Mann. However, those convictions were later overturned by a New York appeals court, which ruled that Weinstein’s constitutional rights had been violated during the original trial — leading to the current retrial.
The retrial has drawn renewed public attention as more details emerge, and key witnesses take the stand once again. Weinstein has continued to deny all allegations of non-consensual encounters.