Harvey Weinstein Accuser Kaja Sokola Begins Testimony in New York Trial; Sister Says Ex-Model Was ‘Proud of Knowing’ Him

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On Wednesday, Kaja Sokola, the latest accuser in Harvey Weinstein’s New York re-trial, started testifying as a witness in the former movie mogul’s case being held in Manhattan.

The former model-turned-aspiring actor, who encountered Weinstein under those circumstances, has become the second accuser to testify, following last week’s court testimony from Miriam Haley, a former TV production assistant. Kaja Sokola recounted her life experiences leading up to her encounter with Weinstein, including her childhood in Wroclaw, Poland.

Previously on Wednesday, Kaja Sokola’s elder sister, cardiologist Ewa Sokola, provided testimony regarding a 2006 lunch gathering they and Weinstein attended at a Manhattan hotel. During this meeting, Ewa remembered that Kaja and Weinstein left the table together in an elevator for a while, leaving her waiting. After approximately half an hour to an hour had passed, Kaja returned alone and instead of resuming their conversation, Kaja departed the hotel with Ewa.

Ewa Sokola observed that her sister seemed unusually anxious after coming back from spending time with Weinstein, but they went about their day as if it were an ordinary day. She mentioned she couldn’t remember if Kaja Sokola was carrying anything like a script and didn’t notice any signs of distress, such as torn clothes or ripped stockings.

During cross-examination by the defense, it was established that Kaja Sokola made no negative statements about Weinstein prior to 2017. In fact, Ewa Sokola testified that Kaja had been proud of knowing him.

Ewa Sokola additionally stated that her younger sister, Kaja Sokola, had never shared with her the alleged incident involving Weinstein, and it was only through a magazine article published in 2022 that she became aware of the allegations. Upon learning about her sister’s accusations, Ewa expressed her disbelief and shock.

Last September, Harvey Weinstein was charged with an extra count of sexual misconduct, following accusations made by Kaja Sokola. Allegedly, between April 29, 2006 and May 6, 2006, in a Manhattan hotel, Weinstein is said to have performed oral sex on her. At the time of Weinstein’s 2020 trial, Kaja Sokola did not testify, remaining unidentified until the opening statements in late April.

On Wednesday, Lindsay Goldbrum, attorney for Kaja Sokola, released a statement saying, “Today, Kaja Sokola testified, speaking her truth as not only a survivor but also an esteemed psychotherapist and psychologist. Almost two decades ago, as a teenager, Kaja found herself in the sway of Harvey Weinstein, a powerful 54-year-old Hollywood executive. According to Kaja’s account, he made it clear that he held sway over her future, implying he could make or break careers. Now, she stands before him in court, reclaiming her voice and her narrative.

Back in 2019, Kaja Sokola lodged a civil lawsuit against Weinstein, referring to an incident from 2002 where she was just 16. She alleged that he pressured her into letting him grope her and made her touch his private parts. This accusation was initially made in 2018 when she was part of a group lawsuit, using the pseudonym Jane Doe. Despite the class action plaintiffs reaching a settlement with Weinstein, Sokola expressed dissatisfaction with the terms in a statement, stating that they were unfair.

Weinstein faces two charges for allegedly committing a severe form of sexual misconduct in the first degree and one charge for third-degree rape, based on allegations made by Sokola, Haley, and actress Jessica Mann.

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2025-05-08 01:54