Harvey Weinstein's 'whole life has been ruined' regardless of trial outcome, says attorney

Lawyer representing disgraced producer 'doesn't think he's a rapist'

Jacob Stolworthy
Wednesday 18 September 2019 09:47 BST
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Untouchable: The Rise and Fall of Harvey Weinstein - trailer

Harvey Weinstein's attorney said that the disgraced film producer's "whole life has been ruined" amid more than 70 allegations of sexual harassment and rape.

Speaking in a recent interview with Gayle King on CBS News, Donna Rotunno said Weinstein "will pay the biggest price there is" regardless of the outcome of a sexual assault case trial that's due to occur next year.

“His whole life has been ruined, toppled, damaged," Rotunno said. "And whether it’s by his own doing or others's, that’s the fact. And the fact is that no matter what we do, and we can walk out of that courtroom with a not guilty and walk him out onto those courtroom steps, and he never gets to be Harvey Weinstein ever again.”

Rotunno questioned the validity of the #MeToo movement, which was launched after the allegations against Weinstein came to light in 2017.

“I think in many ways, there are good things about #MeToo – and I've said this – but what bothers me [is] it allows the court of public opinion to take over the narrative.”

His attorney, who said she doesn't believe Weinstein, 67, is a rapist, expressed the belief he will be cleared of the two counts of sexual assault he's been charged with next year.

"I'm not here to say that he was not guilty of committing sins. I'm not here to say that at all. But there's a difference between sins and crimes, and I don't think he's a rapist," she said.

Last week, a new book titled She Said was released, detailing alleged behaviour of Weinstein's and revelations involving Gwyneth Paltrow and Rose McGowan.

Weinstein is facing a criminal trial on charges of rape and predatory sexual assault and has pleaded not guilty. He has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.

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