is being tried for rape and sexual misconduct took on the aura of a college psychology classroom today as a high-profile cognitive psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Loftus testified about false memories and the ways in which misinformation, media coverage and leading questions from police investigators can warp how people recall – and mis-recall – even the most traumatic events.
Weinstein’s lawyers – who began presenting their case yesterday after the prosecution rested – appear to be laying the groundwork for an argument that the rape accusations are based at least in part on memories contaminated by outside information such as investigators’ questions, media coverage and even similar rape accounts against Weinstein from other women.
Illuzzi, emphatically and loudly pointing out that Loftus was, in fact, customizing her testimony, at least in part, for the Weinstein case, said the psychologist mentioned “Valium versus Xanax versus heroin versus cocaine – you chose Valium because you were tailoring your response for this case?”
There is little doubt for me that handing out acting parts in exchange for sex should also be a felony.