Miriam Haley, the first accuser in Harvey Weinstein's rape retrial, testified about her experiences with Weinstein, emphasizing her lack of romantic or sexual interest in him and her sole focus on finding work. Despite Weinstein's persistent and unwanted advances, including an invitation to Paris which she declined, he allegedly forced oral sex on her in 2006. Haley's testimony is part of a retrial following the overturning of Weinstein's 2020 conviction due to judicial errors and prejudicial testimony. This retrial also includes charges based on allegations from Jessica Mann and Kaja Sokola, who are expected to testify about their own alleged assaults by Weinstein. Weinstein's attorneys argue that the encounters were consensual, with the accusers seeking career advancement in the industry.

Miriam Haley took the witness stand as the first accuser in Harvey Weinstein's retrial, recalling her interactions with him that ranged from professionally encouraging to personally off-putting, as Weinstein allegedly made unwanted advances during their meetings.

Despite her clear intentions to seek work, Weinstein allegedly made comments about her legs and requested massages during their meeting at the Cannes film festival in 2006, which Haley found humiliating.

Haley recounted accepting a job on 'Project Runway' arranged by Weinstein but maintained that her interactions with him were strictly professional, despite his persistent invitations to accompany him to Paris fashion shows, which she declined.

The retrial includes allegations from Haley, Jessica Mann, and Kaja Sokola, with Mann alleging rape in 2013 and Sokola claiming Weinstein forced oral sex on her in 2006, a charge not included in the original trial.

Weinstein's original conviction was overturned due to judicial errors, leading to this retrial, where his defense argues that the sexual encounters were consensual and motivated by the accusers' aspirations in the film industry.

Haley's testimony closely mirrors her previous statements in the original trial, emphasizing her lack of romantic or sexual interest in Weinstein and her discomfort with his advances.

The Associated Press reports that all three accusers have consented to be named in relation to their allegations against Weinstein, challenging the notion that they sought professional gains through these encounters.