Weinstein lawyer on avoiding sexual assault: 'I would never put myself in that position'

Harvey Weinstein’s lead defense attorney in the movie mogul’s rape and sexual assault trial said in an interview that she has never been a victim of sexual assault “because I would never put myself in that position.”

In an interview released by The Daily podcast on Friday, Donna Rotunno, was asked whether she had ever been sexually assaulted.

“I have not because I would never put myself in that position,” she said on the New York Times podcast. “I’ve always made choices from college age on where I never drank too much. I never went home with someone that I didn’t know. I just never put myself in any vulnerable circumstances ever.”

New York Times reporter Megan Twohey, who is co-author of “She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story that Helped Ignite a Movement,” pressed her on this assertion, “”Do you believe every woman who’s been sexually assaulted somehow put herself in that position — whether it was having drinks or agreeing to go to a hotel room?”

“Absolutely not. But just as we make smart decisions when we walk out on the street at night, I think you have to make the same decision when your putting yourself in circumstances with other people,” Rotunno added.

“When we walk out at night we look around, we make sure we have our phone, some people take Mace. We take precautions. All I’m saying is women should take precautions.”

I was almost done interviewing Weinstein’s defense attorney when I decided to ask one more question: had she ever been sexually assaulted? “I have not,” she said at 23:50. “Because I would never put myself in that position.” Then things really heated up. https://t.co/l1ExsBCgHX

— megan twohey (@mega2e) February 7, 2020

The interview aired the day after the prosecution rested in a trial where, according to the New York Daily News, six women provided graphic testimony about unwanted sexual attacks and advances by the powerful movie producer whom prosecutors said used his power to prey on young, inexperienced women who were hoping to establish their movie careers.

The Rotunno-led defense for Weinstein, argues that the sexual encounters were consensual. As evidence, they have pointed to friendly messages that the women sent to Weinstein after the alleged attacks, CNN reported.

Furthering the controversy, Buzzfeed reported that prosecutors argued in court Friday that Rotunno had violated an explicit order from the trial judge about publicly discussing the case. Rotunno said the interview was done "a long time ago," before the case began, and she "had no idea" it would air Friday.

A NYT spokeswoman says Rotunno's interview was recorded on Jan. 28 — well after the trial began Jan. 7 — and she was “made aware of the air date,” according to Buzzfeed.