Polish model lied about Weinstein sex assault as part of cash-grab scheme to escape abusive ex: Harvey’s lawyer

A Polish exemplary lied that Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted her starting astatine property 16 as portion of a cash-grab strategy to flight her abusive ex-husband, the erstwhile producer’s lawyer suggested successful tribunal Friday.

Michael Cibella, a lawyer for the fallen Miramax founder, zeroed successful connected accuser Kaja Sokola, 39, successful Manhattan Supreme Court implicit her alleged money-hungry scam astatine the sex-crimes retrial for Weinstein, 73.

Sokola’s alleged maltreatment by her hubby “gave her information to say, ‘I’ve gotta get the wealth to get retired of this abusive relationship,’ ” the lawyer said.

Sokola received $475,000 done a unfortunate compensation money acceptable up done a bankruptcy proceeding for women allegedly assaulted by Weinstein. She would besides aboriginal settee with Disney, Miramax and Weinstein’s member and concern partner, Bob Weinstein, for $3 million.

“She’s surviving successful an abusive narration for 4 years, and erstwhile she gets the wealth from the Weinstein bankruptcy case, she leaves,” Cibella said, noting Sokola moved to the US conscionable 2 months aft receiving the astir $500,000 payout.

Early during Cibella’s questioning of Sokola, she besides admitted she is presently applying for a “U” visa, which allows victims of a transgression to unrecorded successful the US. Sokola said she besides would person the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office backing her migration propulsion due to the fact that of her grounds against Weinstein.

Prosecutor Shannon Lucey told the justice the defense’s claims were far-fetched.

“The full statement is pulling astatine straws,” Lucey said.

Judge Curtis Farber aboriginal told the assemblage to disregard immoderate of Cibella’s questioning of Sokola, saying it went excessively acold into her idiosyncratic beingness with her hubby — whom she divorced successful precocious 2020.

Sokola testified implicit the past 3 days astir however Weinstein allegedly assaulted her 3 times — the archetypal clip erstwhile she was a exemplary and aspiring histrion astatine 16 successful 2002.

She claimed Weinstein invited her to luncheon but alternatively took her to his SoHo loft, wherever helium touched her vagina and forced her to interaction his penis.

Sokola told jurors she remained successful interaction with Weinstein implicit the years, hoping helium would assistance her beforehand her acting career.

Then successful a 2004 car thrust with Weinstein, Sokola claimed helium groped her breasts but she rebuffed his intersexual advances for the 15-minute thrust until she was dropped disconnected astatine the gym.

Sokola said that erstwhile she was 19 successful 2006, she met Weinstein astatine a edifice edifice with her older cardiologist sister — to whom she wanted to beryllium that her acting vocation was thriving.

Weinstein past asked Sokola to his country to look astatine a script, and helium orally raped her, Sokola claimed.

Friday afternoon, Sokola choked up arsenic she told jurors Weinstein broke her bosom by ruining her acting aspirations aft the alleged assaults and pushing her retired of the industry.

“My bosom was broken,” Sokola said. “I believed I could bash it. I met a idiosyncratic who was connected apical of the satellite astatine the time.”

Weinstein failed to present connected large promises to boost her career, she testified.

He said he’d get her an on-screen relation successful a movie with a salient actress, but instead, she lone landed arsenic an other successful a country from “The Nanny Diaries” that yet ended up connected the cutting-room floor, she said.

Sokola is expected to proceed testifying Tuesday morning.

The movie shaper is lone charged with the 2006 alleged battle against Sokola and not the 2 anterior alleged incidents.

Sokola is testifying for the archetypal clip against Weinstein, dissimilar different alleged victims successful the case who testified astatine his 2020 trial.

Weinstein’s condemnation and 23-year condemnation were overturned past year. He has pleaded not blameworthy and faces up to 25 years if convicted again.