Former cocktail waitress testifies in trial that Weinstein raped her

A former cocktail waitress testified Wednesday in Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault trial that the former Hollywood megaproducer held her down and raped her in his New York apartment in 2005. Tarale Wulff, 43, said she was driven to Weinstein’s home after showing up at his office, where she expected a meeting about a possible film role. “He grabbed my arms, put me on the bed and leaned over me,” Wulff said outside the Manhattan court. “I told him, ‘I can’t.’ He told me, ‘Don’t worry, I can’t have kids,'” added Wulff, who now works as a model. Weinstein, 67, faces life in prison if convicted of sexual assault charges related to actress Jessica Mann and former production assistant Mimi Haleyi. Wulff is the second witness to say Weinstein raped her after “Sopranos” actress Annabella Sciorra told the jury Thursday that he forced himself on her in the early 1990s. Wulff was one of two women who took the stand on the sixth day of testimony in the high-profile trial that has come to symbolize the #MeToo movement. She said Weinstein had previously masturbated in front of her after grabbing her arm and taking her to a secluded part of an upscale Manhattan restaurant where she worked. Defense attorney Donna Rotunno accused Wulff of changing the year of the alleged assault from 2004 to 2005 just months before the trial. She also pointed out that Wulff agreed to meet Weinstein despite the initial alleged sexual assault in the restaurant. – ‘Past bad deeds’ – Earlier, Dawn Dunning testified that Weinstein put his hand under her skirt and tried to penetrate her with his fingers during a hotel meeting to discuss possible film projects in 2005. “I just froze and stood up. He apologized and said it wouldn’t happen again,” she said. Dunning, now 40, added that two weeks later, after she agreed to meet him in a hotel lobby, Weinstein demanded a threesome with her in exchange for film roles. An assistant took her to an upstairs suite. There, wearing only a bathrobe, Weinstein said she could have the role if she had sex with him and his assistant. “When I started laughing, he got really mad and said, ‘You’ll never make it,'” Dunning said, adding that she quit acting soon after. The former Miramax chief said he demanded the same of Charlize Theron, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman, prosecutor Dawn Dunning said in New York state court. There is no indication that any of the three actresses ever gave in to the alleged demand. Dunning and Wulff testified as witnesses to “past misconduct” to bolster the prosecution’s argument that Weinstein engaged in a pattern of predatory sexual behavior. Arthur Aidala, representing the defense, pointed out that Dunning – like Wulff – agreed to a second meeting with Weinstein, even though their last meeting resulted in alleged physical assault. The trial continues. Tarale Wulff leaves Manhattan Criminal Court during a break in testimony in the sexual assault trial of Harvey Weinstein on January 29, 2020 in New York City. Harvey Weinstein arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court on January 24, 2020 to stand trial on rape and sexual assault charges in New York City.