'He's staring at me': Gavin Newsom's wife Jennifer Siebel in tears as she testifies at Harvey Weinstein trial
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a filmmaker and the wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom, took the stand at Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault trial. She broke down in tears as she discussed how the 'disgraced Hollywood mogul' raped her years ago at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Jennifer, 48, in the downtown Los Angeles courtroom on Monday, November 14, became the fourth woman Harvey Weinstein is accused of sexually assaulting to testify. When asked by Prosecutor Marlene Martinez if she saw the person in the courtroom whom she met at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2005, Jennifer had tears dripping down before she muttered "Yes" into the attached microphone. "He's wearing a suit, and a blue tie, and he's staring at me," she stated, according to a report by WCVB.
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(Jesse Grant/Getty Images)
Jennifer was "a powerless actor trying to make her way in Hollywood" said Deputy District Attorney Paul Thompson said in the trial's opening statements. He added that when Weinstein raped her in 2005, she thought she was going for a meeting at a Beverly Hills hotel to discuss her career. Describing her initial meeting with Weinstein said "I was a working actress, I had little roles, guest-starring roles on TV shows and films, and I was working on some short films, I'd been in two features … but they were small roles."
Jennifer went to the festival in September 2005 with a group of her entertainment industry friends when Weinstein approached her. She said, a crowd of people in the hotel lobby area seemed to clear Weinstein was approaching her, "It felt like the red sea was parting," she further testified. "I don't know if it was deference or fear." She said Weinstein, then at the epitome of his Hollywood power, was "the kingmaker" to everyone in the room. "I felt a bit intimidated," she remarked. "He was charming. He treated me initially like he was really curious about me. Maybe flattered is how I felt?" Later, she and a friend met him at a hotel bar. "I felt like there was a genuine interest in talking about my work," she said.
Since Weinstein became a magnet in the #MeToo movement in 2017, he was accused by many famous industry personas, including A-list actors. Jennifer was identified as John Doe 4 in the trial. Attorney Mark Werksman on behalf of Weinstein told jurors, that Jennifer was "a very prominent citizen of California" who has made herself "a prominent victim in the #MeToo movement." Werksman added, "Otherwise, she'd be just another bimbo who slept with Harvey Weinstein to get ahead in Hollywood."
Star of 'Spaceballs' actor Daphne Zuniga, testified about her friend and said she and Jennifer were on a hike when they chatted about Jennifer's meeting with Harvey Weinstein. When questioned how it went, Jennifer told Zuniga "not good, I don't want to talk about." She said "I always had known her to be positive, upbeat, looks you in the eye, lovely energy.". But at that moment, "she seemed upset, squirmy, agitated," Zuniga added. Jennifer's attorney Elizabeth Fegan said, "She intends to testify at his trial in order to seek some measure of justice for survivors, and as part of her life's work to improve the lives of women."
Whilst Weinstein's lawyers claim the pair had consensual sex and that Jennifer seeked to use the powerful producer to move ahead in her career. The 70-year-old Weinstein who is currently serving a 23-year sentence for a conviction in New York has pleaded not guilty to the charges of rape (four) and sexual assault (seven) against him that involves five women , reported a source. He has reportedly denied ever indulging in any non-consensual sexual activity.