Polish model lied about Weinstein sex assault as part of cash-grab scheme to escape abusive ex: Harveys lawyer
A Polish model lied that Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted her starting at age 16 as part of a cash-grab scheme to escape her abusive ex-husband, the former producer’s lawyer suggested in court Friday.Michael Cibella, a lawyer for the fallen Miramax founder, zeroed in on accuser, Kaja Sokola, 39, in Manhattan Supreme Court over her alleged money-hungry scam at the sex-crimes retrial for Weinstein, 73.Sokola’s alleged abuse by her husband “gave her motivation to say, ‘I’ve gotta get the money to get out of this abusive relationship,’ ” the lawyer said.Sokola received $475,000 through a victim compensation fund set up through a bankruptcy proceeding for women allegedly assaulted by Weinstein.She would also later settle with Disney, Miramax and Weinstein’s brother and business partner, Bob Weinstein, for $3 million.
“She’s living in an abusive relationship for four years, and once she gets the money from the Weinstein bankruptcy case, she leaves,” Cibella said, noting Sokola moved to the US just two months after receiving the nearly $500,000 payout.Early during Cibella’s questioning of Sokola, she also admitted she is currently applying for a “U” visa, which allows victims of a crime to live in the US.Sokola said she also would have the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office backing her immigration push because of her testimony against Weinstein.Prosecutor Shannon Lucey told the judge the defense’s claims were far-fetched.“The whole argument is pulling at straws,” Lucey said.Judge Curtis Farber later told the jury to disregard some of Cibella’s questioning of Sokola, saying it went too far into her personal life with her husband — whom she divorced in late 2020.Sokola testified over the past three days about how Weinstein allegedly assaulted her three times — the first time when she was a model and aspiring actress at 16 in 2002.She claimed Weinstein invited her to lunch but instead took her to his SoHo loft, where he touched...