Bryan R Smith/Reuters
A Mexican mannequin and actress is about to take the stand in Harvey Weinstein’s sex-crimes trial on Wednesday—to face allegations she lured and trapped one of many topped titan’s accusers right into a Beverly Hills lodge in 2013.
On Monday, a girl recognized in court docket as Jane Doe 2 advised Los Angeles Superior court docket jurors that she was invited to the Montague Lodge in February 2013 by Claudia Salinas beneath the guise of assembly Weinstein to debate a script she had been engaged on. As a substitute, Jane Doe 2 alleges that Salinas trapped her and Weinstein in a rest room, the place he groped her and masturbated in entrance of her.
“This was a woman that I believed was my new buddy,” Jane Doe 2 advised the jury on Monday as she described how Salinas allegedly closed the lavatory door behind her and Weinstein. “So she gave me this look whereas she closed the door…I simply couldn’t imagine that she would try this to me. To a different woman. As a result of there’s a woman code. You don’t try this.”
After the assault and Weinstein’s ejaculation onto the ground, Jane Doe 2 stated she “noticed Claudia Salinas” as she shortly exited the lavatory door.
“I shot her an evil look. She didn’t say something. She checked out me. She had this evil look. Like a smirk. Like she roped me in on one thing,” Jane Doe 2 added on Tuesday.
However jurors previous over Weinstein’s second sex-crimes trials are anticipated to listen to Salinas’ aspect of the story on Wednesday—after prosecutors indicated that she will likely be a authorities’s witness. After court docket on Tuesday, prosecutors revealed to Decide Lisa Lench their intention to name Salinas to testify however that her attorneys need her to invoke her fifth modification proper towards self-incrimination.
Assistant District Lawyer Paul Thompson famous the Salinas has beforehand denied Jane Doe 2’s claims in New York—the place she testified on behalf of the protection. Within the New York trial, the place Weinstein was convicted of a number of sex-crimes, Jane Doe 2 was an uncharged witness referred to as to the stand to assist prosecutors set up Weinstein’s sample of predatory habits.
Thompson famous that Salinas’ testimony in New York was not incriminating in any manner, and that he has indicated to the Mexican mannequin’s lawyer that he has no intention of charging Salinas as an confederate to Weinstein’s alleged crimes.
“I can’t say that he’s going to talk for each future prosecutor,” Salinas’ legal professional, Scott Rosenblum, stated.
“If we had been going to cost her we'd have charged her by now,” Thompson added, prompting the attorneys to agree that Salinas could be summoned again to court docket to testify on Wednesday.
Claudia Salinas is questioned by lawyer Damon Cheronis throughout the Weinstein sexual assault trial at New York Legal Courtroom in New York on February 10, 2020 on this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Whereas it isn't instantly clear what Salinas will say on the stand, the mannequin candidly advised a New York jury that she by no means shut the door behind Jane Doe 2. She stated that whereas the assembly that the Montague did happen, she insists they by no means went into Weinstein’s suite.
“That by no means occurred,” Salinas testified in 2020. “If I had completed that, I'd do not forget that. I'd by no means shut the door behind anyone, ever.”
The mannequin, nevertheless, admitted on the New York stand that she beforehand advised authorities she didn't know if Jane Doe 2 went to Weinstein’s lodge room after the trio met for drinks however pressured that if one thing did occur she was not current.
Salinas didn't instantly reply to The Every day Beast’s request for remark.