Weinstein accuser Jessica Mann ‘suffers panic attack’ as she admits ‘manipulating’ him after ‘rape’ and ‘golden shower’
A WOMAN who alleges she was raped by Harvey Weinstein sobbed in the dock as she was quizzed by the movie mogul's lawyers at his New York trial.
Jessica Mann appeared to have a panic attack as she struggled to breath during cross-examination - abruptly ending her testimony.
Mann has alleged she was raped by disgraced Weinstein in 2013.
And the aspiring actress broke down in tears five hours into her second day giving evidence that saw her claim Weinstein gave her a "golden shower" - urinating on her.
Mann had been reading a letter she wrote an ex-boyfriend in 2014, which described how she tried to make Weinstein "a pseudo father", when she started to sob uncontrollably.
Mann, 34, left the courtroom gasping for air as Judge James Burke cut proceedings short for the day.
During her time in court, Mann was repeatedly asked to justify her actions following allegations that raped her in a hotel in 2013.
Earlier, Weinstein's lawyer Donna Rotunno had claimed Mann "manipulated" Weinstein because she liked the "parties and the power" that were a result of their relationship.
The defense lawyer said: “You’re interpreting this in a particular way, but it’s possible that he just genuinely liked you.”
Mann, an aspiring actress, replied: “I felt panicked because I had this dynamic with Harvey where I always had to jump and obey.
"The abuse was unpredictable.”
ALLEGED MANIPULATION
Mann has acknowledged "manipulating" the movie mogul after he allegedly raped her so as to maintain contact with him.
As well as justifying her behavior to Weinstein, the defense questioned why Mann did not mention the alleged incident to friends and family.
Speaking in court, defence lawyer Rotunno claimed Mann had lied to her family and friends about the relationship.
Mann responded: "My abuse was embarrassing, and I didn’t want to share it with people. I wouldn’t characterize that as lying.”
She also recounted the time that Weinstein asked her if she had ever had a "golden shower", and then began to urinate on her in the shower.
Weinstein, 67, once among the most powerful figures in Hollywood, has been accused of sexual abuse by more than 80 women since allegations against him first emerged in October 2017 and sparked the worldwide #MeToo movement.
I felt panicked because I had this dynamic with Harvey where I always had to jump and obey
Jessica Mann
The allegations made by Mann, along with those of production assistant Mimi Haleyi, form the basis of the five felony charges for which he is standing trial.
Mann has claimed that Weinstein raped her in a room at Manhattan's Doubletree Hotel in March 2013 after injecting his penis with a drug to help him gain an erection.
She says he also raped her again eight months later in an LA hotel after screaming, "You owe me one more time!", and dragging her into a bedroom.
During cross-examination today, Weinstein's defence attorney Donna Rotunno presented evidence of friendly e-mails sent between Mann and Weinstein after the alleged rape.
Mann acknowledged keeping up a relationship with Weinstein, but said she felt she had to because "his ego was fragile" and that alienating him would have damaged her career.
'I TRIED TO NEGOTIATE HIM AWAY FROM SEX'
Mann was also asked why she had sent Weinstein her new phone number after changing it on five occasions between 2013 and 2017.
"There was a reason," Mann said.
"The reason is that you still wanted the benefit of what he was giving you?" Rotunno asked.
"That’s your version," Mann said.
Rotunno then asserted that Mann had kept in touch with Weinstein because she "still wanted to go to every Oscars Party every year".
Mann also acknowledged at least one occasion on which she had consensual sex with Weinstein.
She also described how she told Weinstein he was the "best she ever had" and faked an orgasm with him.
"You told us that you were willing to sleep with Harvey Weinstein because you didn’t want him to ruin your acting career, is that correct?" Rotunno said.
"I did not want him to hurt my acting career," Mann replied.
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"You didn't have a career to hurt," Rotunno said.
"I was building one," Mann said.
Weinstein's trial is now in its fifth week and is expected to last at least until the end of February.
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