Opening statements at Harvey Weinstein’s trial in Los Angeles are set to begin

as disgraced former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein goes on trial in Los Angeles on multiple sex-crime charges. Some high-profile witnesses are reportedly set to testify against him. A lawyer for the once-powerful producer said several women should recount. Their experience of sexual assault includes famous actors and models. One of the reasons it is allowed or perhaps even encouraged in our society is the secrecy and shame that surrounds the act of sexual assault. The list of Hollywood insiders *** who have accused Weinstein of harassment, assault and even rape is long, including actor and filmmaker Jennifer Ziebel Newsom, a woman married to the governor of California. Her lawyer confirmed to Newsy on Tuesday that she will testify against Weinstein, like many other women, my client was sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein in a *** supposed business meeting that turned out to be a *** trap, she told us that intends to testify at his trial to get some measure of justice for the survivors, and as part of her life’s work to improve the lives of women, for Miss Newsom to come forward, take the stand as a very public figure. It gives confidence to victims of sexual abuse. The other side of me is why we always have to have someone with political, economic or social influence. As the average woman makes her day, she says Weinstein’s West Coast trial comes after he was convicted in New York of raping and sexually assaulting two women. He is already serving *** 23 years in prison for these crimes. Now he faces 11 more counts of rape and sexual assault involving five women. Newsom is among them. And New York has historically had more applications to prosecute high-profile defendants. And so it’s interesting to see that California is now doing this as well. His conviction here could have put him in prison for the rest of his life, *** a fate sealed long ago, but only with the spark *** of a national movement to bring to justice the powerful predators of James, Packard News, Los Angeles.