Siebel Newsom, wife of California governor, accuses Harvey Weinstein of rape - Reuters

LOS ANGELES, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker and the woman of California's governor, testified connected Monday that erstwhile movie shaper Harvey Weinstein raped her successful 2005 erstwhile she was trying to physique a vocation arsenic a shaper and actor.

On the witnesser basal successful Los Angeles Superior Court, Siebel Newsom said she met Weinstein, present 70, astatine the Toronto Film Festival erstwhile she was 31 and had acted successful immoderate tiny movie and TV roles.

Weeks aboriginal successful California, Weinstein invited her to conscionable him astatine The Peninsula edifice successful Beverly Hills for what she thought was a concern meeting, she testified. She was amazed to larn that she was expected to conscionable Weinstein, past 1 of the astir almighty producers successful Hollywood, successful his edifice suite, she said.

When she arrived, Weinstein had nary involvement successful discussing her projects, Siebel Newsom said. He went to the bathroom, called her implicit and began masturbating successful beforehand of her, she said, earlier touching her breasts and becoming "aggressive."

"I was scared. This was not wherefore I came here," she said, often breaking into tears. "I conscionable remembered physically trying to backmost away."

Siebel Newsom said Weinstein got her onto a bed, though she cannot callback if helium carried oregon dragged her there. He past raped her, she said.

"He was conscionable truthful large and truthful determined," she said. "This was hell."

Weinstein, the antheral who became the look of #MeToo allegations 5 years ago, is serving a 23-year situation condemnation for enactment crimes successful New York. He is present connected proceedings successful Los Angeles connected 11 charges of rape and intersexual battle and has pleaded not guilty.

Siebel Newsom, who was identified successful tribunal arsenic Jane Doe #4, is 1 of 4 women whose allegations are the ground of the Los Angeles charges against Weinstein. Prosecutors had earlier said determination were 5 accusers.

Siebel Newsom's lawyer confirmed successful October that Siebel Newsom would attest successful the case.

Defense attorneys person argued that each of Weinstein's intersexual encounters were consensual and that his accusers willingly took portion successful a "casting couch" civilization to further their careers successful Hollywood.

At the clip of the gathering with Siebel Newsom, she had not met her aboriginal husband, existent California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and she said she did not archer him what happened until aft allegations against Weinstein became public.

In cross-examination, Weinstein lawyer Mark Werksman questioned Siebel Newsom astir wherefore her hubby had accepted run donations from the producer. She said the politician returned the wealth aft she told him astir her encounter.

Weinstein, 70, was convicted of intersexual misconduct successful New York successful February 2020. He was extradited from New York to a Los Angeles situation successful July 2021.

In New York, Weinstein is appealing his condemnation and 23-year situation sentence. He could look up to 140 years successful situation if convicted connected each of the charges successful Los Angeles.

Reporting by Lisa Richwine. Editing by Gerry Doyle

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