In this engaging discussion, Donna Rotunno, lead defense lawyer for Harvey Weinstein and specialist in defending men accused of sex crimes, shares her insights with Megan Twohey, the investigative reporter who helped expose Weinstein’s alleged abuses. They delve into the intricacies of the legal strategies employed in the trial, the challenges of navigating consent, and the broader implications of the Me Too movement on due process. Rotunno highlights the psychological toll on both the accusers and those accused, providing a complex view of a profoundly impactful case.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Duke Lacrosse Case
Donna Rotunno's interest in defending men accused of sexual misconduct began with the Duke Lacrosse case.
The case highlighted how false accusations can permanently damage reputations, illustrating the lasting impact of such allegations.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Chicago Clothing Designer
Rotunno describes a case involving a Chicago clothing designer whose business was ruined by a false accusation.
Despite winning the case, the damage to his reputation and livelihood was irreversible, demonstrating the broader consequences of such allegations.
insights INSIGHT
Fairness and Due Process
Rotunno argues for fairness and due process, emphasizing the need to avoid automatically assigning victim status.
She highlights the importance of skepticism and thorough investigation before reaching conclusions in such cases.
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Long Bright River is a deeply affecting novel that delves into the lives of two sisters, Mickey and Kacey Fitzpatrick, in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. Mickey, a single mother and police officer, searches for her missing sister Kacey, who is struggling with addiction and works as a sex worker. The story unfolds as a mystery-thriller, with a series of murders involving prostitutes, forcing Mickey to confront their troubled childhood and the complexities of their relationship. The novel explores themes of addiction, family dynamics, and the broader social issues of poverty and community policing, offering a gripping and emotionally charged narrative[2][4][5].
She Said
Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement
Megan Twohey
Jodi Kantor
She Said is a thrilling account of the investigative journalism that led to the exposure of Harvey Weinstein's decades-long history of sexual abuse and harassment. Written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the book chronicles their meticulous investigation, including secret meetings, harrowing phone calls, and private text exchanges with A-list actresses and other sources. It also explores the systemic structures of power that enabled Weinstein's behavior and the broader impact of the #MeToo movement, including the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford against Brett Kavanaugh. The book is praised for its detailed and suspenseful narrative, offering insights into the rigorous process of quality reporting and the significant cultural shifts it helped catalyze.
Note: This episode contains descriptions of sexual violence.
In the trial of Harvey Weinstein, six women have taken the stand, each making similar accusations of rape and sexual assault against the movie producer. Throughout their testimony, Weinstein’s defense lawyers have portrayed those encounters as consensual and suggested that in many cases it was the women who wanted something from Mr. Weinstein. His lawyers have seized on the fact that the two women whose accounts are at the center of the criminal charges in his New York trial agreed to have sex and friendly contact with Mr. Weinstein after they were allegedly victimized. Today, one of The Times reporters who broke the story of Mr. Weinstein’s alleged abuse more than two years ago speaks with Donna Rotunno, the lawyer behind Mr. Weinstein’s legal strategy.
Long before an avalanche of allegations against Mr. Weinstein set off a global reckoning over sexual harassment, Ms. Rotunno was steadily building a career as a criminal lawyer in Chicago with an unusual specialty: defending men accused of sex crimes.
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