Context:

During the retrial of Harvey Weinstein on sexual assault charges, former model Kaja Sokola was questioned about a private journal she wrote during a substance abuse treatment program. Defense attorneys attempted to use the journal to challenge her allegations, but Sokola resisted its use, arguing it was inappropriate and unethical to discuss in court. Concerns were raised by Judge Curtis Farber regarding the journal's completeness and how the defense obtained it, hinting at potential repercussions for the defense. Sokola, who is now a psychotherapist, insists that sharing such personal records is unethical. Despite the defense's efforts to question her credibility, Sokola maintains Weinstein exploited her dreams of an acting career to subject her to unwanted advances, leading to a criminal sex act charge against him for an incident in 2006.

Dive Deeper:

• Kaja Sokola, a former model, testified against Harvey Weinstein, stating he exploited her acting aspirations for sexual advances starting when she was 16. Weinstein is facing a criminal sex act charge for allegedly forcing oral sex on her in 2006, though some incidents fall outside the criminal statute of limitations.

• Defense attorneys introduced Sokola's private journal from a substance abuse program, claiming it includes references to multiple sexual assaults but not Weinstein. Sokola argued against its use, citing privacy and the journal's context as personal therapy records.

• Judge Curtis Farber expressed concerns about the journal's authenticity and completeness and questioned how the defense acquired such private medical records. He indicated that involving the journal might backfire on the defense.

• Sokola, now a psychotherapist, emphasized the unethical nature of using her personal journal in court, asserting she would never breach such confidentiality with her patients.

• Weinstein has pleaded not guilty, with his lawyers portraying Sokola as a failed actress attempting to capitalize on her relationship with him. The retrial includes allegations from other women, following the overturning of Weinstein's 2020 conviction.

• The defense's strategy includes raising doubts about Sokola's allegations by highlighting inconsistencies and portraying her as leveraging a consensual relationship with Weinstein for career advancement.

• The jury was dismissed for a lunch break as tensions rose during Sokola's testimony, with plans for her cross-examination to continue in the afternoon, demonstrating the trial's emotional intensity and complexity.