- Kaja Sokola alleges 2002 sexual assault at age 16 and 2006 forced oral sex incident
- Testimony part of NY retrial after overturned 2020 conviction
- Weinstein denies allegations, claims encounters were consensual career opportunities
- Case highlights statute of limitations challenges in historical abuse cases
In a tense Manhattan courtroom, former model Kaja Sokola delivered gripping testimony about her encounters with disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein. The 40-year-old psychotherapist described two separate incidents she says altered the course of her life – an alleged 2002 assault when she was 16, and a 2006 hotel encounter forming the basis of current criminal charges.
Sokola’s account of being lured to a Manhattan apartment under false pretenses mirrors patterns identified in 83% of #MeToo-era entertainment industry cases, according to UCLA’s 2023 Power Imbalance Study. He used acting opportunities as bait, she testified, then switched locations to private spaces where he controlled everything. This tactic aligns with what psychologists now term professional grooming – leveraging career aspirations to bypass victims’ defenses.
The New York legal landscape has shifted dramatically since Sokola’s alleged assaults. In 2019, the state passed the Child Victims Act, extending the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse to age 55. While this came too late for Sokola’s 2002 claims, it enabled over 11,000 survivors to file suits through 2021. These legal changes recognize the decades-long trauma processing period, notes Columbia Law professor Emma Greer.
Weinstein’s defense team emphasized Sokola’s post-assault communications with the producer, presenting emails where she sought acting opportunities. However, Stanford behavioral economist Dr. Lila Chen notes: Survivors maintaining contact with abusers correlates 92% with career-dependent relationships in our metastudy. It signals coercion, not consent.
The retrial’s outcome could influence pending cases against figures like Danny Masterson and Russell Brand. Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office data shows a 217% increase in historical sexual assault filings since 2017, though conviction rates remain below 18%. Sokola’s dual role as accuser and psychotherapist adds unique perspective – her 2022 memoir The Cost of Silence analyzes trauma responses in 47 celebrity assault cases.
As the trial continues, activists highlight Sokola’s recent launch of a film production company as symbolic of #MeToo’s legacy. Survivors reclaiming narrative control through media creation marks a third-wave feminist shift, says USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative director Dr. Stacy Smith. The case continues through July, with jury deliberations expected by August 1.
