New York prosecutor says former movie producer Weinstein abused his power

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York prosecutors told jurors that Harvey Weinstein abused his power and pushed back against claims by the former Hollywood producer’s defense team that his accusers were not credible.

Prosecutors make final case against Weinstein
In closing arguments, New York prosecutors told jurors that Harvey Weinstein abused his power and pushed back against claims by the former Hollywood producer's defense team that his accusers were not credible. Jillian Kitchener has more.

Setting the stage for the jury to begin deliberating next week in Weinstein’s weeks-long sexual assault trial, Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said Weinstein, 67, had counted on his victims never coming forward.

“The defendant not only ran roughshod over the dignity and the very lives of these witnesses, but he also underestimated them,” she said.

The trial is a milestone for the #MeToo movement, in which women have accused powerful men in business, entertainment, media and politics of sexual misconduct.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress, in 2013.

Justice James Burke is expected to give the jury legal instructions on Tuesday morning, after which they will begin deliberating.

Since 2017, more than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.

The former producer, who was behind films including “The English Patient” and “Shakespeare in Love,” has denied any nonconsensual sex.

On Thursday, Donna Rotunno, one of Weinstein’s lawyers, assailed Weinstein’s accusers as unreliable and said an “overzealous” prosecution was trying to portray consensual sex as assault, and that women must be “responsible” for their choices.

Illuzzi said on Friday that all the women were credible and had no reason to lie.

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Film producer Harvey Weinstein and lawyer Donna Rotunno depart New York Criminal Court during his ongoing sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

“If they didn’t feel compelled to do this, would they put their families through this?” she asked. “Would they put themselves through the stress?”

She also pushed back against Rotunno’s argument about women’s responsibility.

“If you’re the victim of fraud, nobody is going to say, well, you gave the accountant access to your money,” she said.

Haleyi testified during the trial that Weinstein forced oral sex on her in his home in 2006. Mann testified that Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel room early in what she called an “extremely degrading” relationship with him.

Illuzzi rejected the defense’s claim that Mann had a loving relationship with Weinstein, but also said it would not matter if she had been “head over heels in love with him.”

“He still wouldn’t be allowed to rape her on March 18 of 2013,” she said.

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Attorney Gloria Allred sits in the front row of the gallery behind the defense during closing arguments at New York Criminal Court for Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
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Film producer Harvey Weinstein's lawyer Donna Rotunno talks to the media outside New York Criminal Court during the ongoing sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
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Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon gives her closing arguments in front of Judge James Burke at New York Criminal Court for Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
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Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. watches as prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon gives her closing arguments in front of Judge James Burke at New York Criminal Court for Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
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Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. leaves New York Criminal Court after Harvey Weinstein sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
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New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor leaves New York Criminal Court after Harvey Weinstein sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
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Film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York Criminal Court during his ongoing sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
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New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor is seen at New York Criminal Court during the ongoing sexual assault trial against Harvey Weinstein in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
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Attorney Gloria Allred arrives at New York Criminal Court for Harvey Weinstein sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
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Film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives with his attorney Donna Rotunno at New York Criminal Court for his sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
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Film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives with his attorney Donna Rotunno at New York Criminal Court for his sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
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Film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives with his attorney Donna Rotunno at New York Criminal Court for his sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
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Film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York Criminal Court for his sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
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Film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York Criminal Court during his ongoing sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
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Film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York Criminal Court during his ongoing sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
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Film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York Criminal Court during his ongoing sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
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Jurors heard from four other women, including actress Annabella Sciorra, who testified that Weinstein came into her apartment one winter night in 1993 or 1994 and raped her. The accusation is too old to be charged as a separate crime, but it could act as an aggravating factor to support the most serious charge in the case, predatory sexual assault, which carries a possible life sentence.

Prosecutors called the remaining three women to bolster their evidence of Weinstein’s intent, but did not charge him with any crimes related to them.

After court wrapped up for the day, Rotunno told reporters that the evidence showed the relationships the accusers had with Weinstein were consensual.

“I think he’s confident. And this is a tough situation for anybody to be in,” she said of Weinstein.