The first witness in Harvey Weinstein’s retrial took the stand on Tuesday, recounting an alleged sexual assault that she says occurred at the former film producer’s Manhattan apartment in July 2006. Miriam Haley, a former TV and film production assistant, told jurors she had no romantic or sexual interest in Weinstein and had approached him only to seek work in the entertainment industry.

Haley testified that two months before the alleged assault, she met Weinstein at the Cannes Film Festival, where he invited her to his hotel room under the pretense of discussing job opportunities. Instead, she said, he quickly turned the conversation toward her appearance, commenting on her legs and suggesting they give each other massages. “I felt humiliated,” Haley told the court. “It was a sinking feeling that he wasn’t taking me seriously at all.”

Her testimony resumed from the 2020 trial, where she had described Weinstein forcibly performing oral sex on her, despite her protests. Haley's two friends testified last week that she told them about the assault shortly after it happened.

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Now 47, Haley began her testimony by speaking about her abusive childhood in Finland and Sweden, her passion for the arts, and her early work in film. She avoided eye contact with Weinstein as she entered the courtroom but was asked to identify him during questioning.

Weinstein, 73, faces multiple charges involving three women: Haley, former aspiring actor Jessica Mann, and former model Kaja Sokola. His previous conviction and 23-year sentence were overturned last year after New York’s highest court ruled that the original trial was compromised by improper judicial rulings.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Haley is expected to continue her testimony on Wednesday, as the high-profile retrial unfolds under closer legal scrutiny.

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