Harvey Weinstein’s leading defence attorney has accused a rival lawyer of being “horrible” to her.
Donna Rotunno, one of the most high-profile members of Weinstein’s legal team, voiced her complaints in court on Friday.
According to Variety, Rotunno addressed Judge James Burke before the jury entered the room on its fourth day of deliberations.
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Rotunno alleged that Gloria Allred, who represents three women who have taken the witness stand in the trial, has been making statements about her to the media.
“Miss Allred feels the need to go out on a daily basis to attack me, which is fine. She can attack me whenever she wants,” Rotunno said, according to Page Six.
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On January 6 the trial process began in New York. Harvey Weinstein arrived using a walking aid, looking frail
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Actresses Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette and other women protested outside court after he arrived
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Jury selection was completed on 21 January and the rape and sexual assualt trial began in earnest the next day
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Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon
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Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast points at Harvey Weinstein during his sexual assault trial as accuser Mimi Haleyi appears on the screen
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Files arrive at the rape trial
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Lawyer Damon Cheronis stands near his client
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Louis R Aidala attends the trial
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Lance Maerov testifies
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Harvey Weinstein is photographed by members of the media as leaves court with the aid of a walker
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Attorney Gloria Allred speaks to the media during the trial
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Harvey Weinstein arrives to court with the support of the members of his defense team
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Actress Annabella Sciorra arrives to testify as a witness
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Harvey Weinstein looks on as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon on the stand
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Assistant District Attorneys Meghan Hast, left, and Joan Illuzzi leave the Harvey Weinstein rape trial during the lunch break
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Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein
Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein
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Harvey Weinstein’s attorney Donna Rotunno leaves Manhattan Supreme Court
AFP via
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Kara Young exits after testifying
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Film producer Harvey Weinstein takes notes as Dr. Barbara Ziv testifies in front of Judge James Burke as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon
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Dr. Barbara Ziv leaves court after testifying
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Actor Rosie Perez points at film producer Harvey Weinstein as she testifies
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Rosie Perez exits after testifying
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Mimi Haleyi, former production assistant, arrives to testify
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A member of the prosecution pushes a cart loaded with files
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Harvey Weinstein looks on as Mimi Haleyi testifies
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Elizabeth Entin, right, a witness in the Harvey Weinstein rape and sexual assault trial, walks towards the courtroom with Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast
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Harvey Weinstein smiles as he arrives for his trial
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Witness Elizabeth Entin is questioned by Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast
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Tarale Wulff, witness in the trial, leaves the courtroom for a break
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Witness Dawn Dunning is cross-examined by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala
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Lincoln Davies, a former boyfriend of accuser Dawn Dunning, leaves court after testifying
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Weinstein looks into the camera as he leaves court on 29 January
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Dev Sen, an attorney from Boies Schiller, leaves after testifying
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Witness Monika Mikkelsen testifies
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Photos are passed around to the jury
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Hotel worker Rothschild Capulong testifies under a photo of the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel in Midtown as Judge James Burke listens
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Playwright Warren Leight arrives to Criminal Court
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Professor Elizabeth Loftus is questioned by lawyer Diana Fabi Samson in front of Judge James Burke
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Actress Talita Maia leaves after testifying
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Nelson Lopez is questioned by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala
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Model Claudia Salinas leaves court after testifying
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Harvey Weinstein and lawyer, Donna Rotunna arrive at court smiling on 14 February
EPA
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District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr watches as prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon gives her closing arguments in front of Judge James Burke on February 14
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Weinstein departs the same day with a smile on his face
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The press watch as Harvey Weinstein and his legal team arrive at the Criminal Court on February 18
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Judge James Burke, left, instructs the jurors before they begin deliberating on Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial. The panel of seven men and five women heard instructions in the law from the judge before going behind closed doors to consider charges
Elizabeth Williams via AP
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Harvey Weinstein sits with his attorney Donna Rotunno as Judge James Burke instructs the jury on charges as they begin deliberations
Reuters
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Women watch as Harvey Weinstein exits the courtroom
Reuters
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Harvey Weinstein arrives to hear verdict
EPA
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Weinstein sits at the defense table reading papers during jury deliberations
Reuters
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On January 6 the trial process began in New York. Harvey Weinstein arrived using a walking aid, looking frail
2/50
Actresses Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette and other women protested outside court after he arrived
AFP via Getty
3/50
Jury selection was completed on 21 January and the rape and sexual assualt trial began in earnest the next day
Reuters
4/50
Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon
Reuters
5/50
Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast points at Harvey Weinstein during his sexual assault trial as accuser Mimi Haleyi appears on the screen
Reuters
6/50
Files arrive at the rape trial
AP
7/50
Lawyer Damon Cheronis stands near his client
Reuters
8/50
Louis R Aidala attends the trial
Reuters
9/50
Lance Maerov testifies
Reuters
10/50
Harvey Weinstein is photographed by members of the media as leaves court with the aid of a walker
AP
11/50
Attorney Gloria Allred speaks to the media during the trial
Reuters
12/50
Harvey Weinstein arrives to court with the support of the members of his defense team
EPA
13/50
Actress Annabella Sciorra arrives to testify as a witness
EPA
14/50
Harvey Weinstein looks on as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon on the stand
Reuters
15/50
Assistant District Attorneys Meghan Hast, left, and Joan Illuzzi leave the Harvey Weinstein rape trial during the lunch break
AP
16/50
Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein
Actress Ellen Barkin arrives after a lunch break to watch the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein
17/50
Harvey Weinstein’s attorney Donna Rotunno leaves Manhattan Supreme Court
AFP via
18/50
Kara Young exits after testifying
Reuters
19/50
Film producer Harvey Weinstein takes notes as Dr. Barbara Ziv testifies in front of Judge James Burke as she is questioned by prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon
Reuters
20/50
Dr. Barbara Ziv leaves court after testifying
AP
21/50
Actor Rosie Perez points at film producer Harvey Weinstein as she testifies
Reuters
22/50
Rosie Perez exits after testifying
Reuters
23/50
Mimi Haleyi, former production assistant, arrives to testify
Reuters
24/50
A member of the prosecution pushes a cart loaded with files
AP
25/50
Harvey Weinstein looks on as Mimi Haleyi testifies
Reuters
26/50
Elizabeth Entin, right, a witness in the Harvey Weinstein rape and sexual assault trial, walks towards the courtroom with Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast
AP
27/50
Harvey Weinstein smiles as he arrives for his trial
Reuters
28/50
Witness Elizabeth Entin is questioned by Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast
Reuters
29/50
Tarale Wulff, witness in the trial, leaves the courtroom for a break
Reuters
30/50
Witness Dawn Dunning is cross-examined by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala
Reuters
31/50
Lincoln Davies, a former boyfriend of accuser Dawn Dunning, leaves court after testifying
AP
32/50
Weinstein looks into the camera as he leaves court on 29 January
Reuters
33/50
Dev Sen, an attorney from Boies Schiller, leaves after testifying
Reuters
34/50
Witness Monika Mikkelsen testifies
Reuters
35/50
Photos are passed around to the jury
Reuters
36/50
Hotel worker Rothschild Capulong testifies under a photo of the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel in Midtown as Judge James Burke listens
Reuters
37/50
Playwright Warren Leight arrives to Criminal Court
Reuters
38/50
Professor Elizabeth Loftus is questioned by lawyer Diana Fabi Samson in front of Judge James Burke
Reuters
39/50
Actress Talita Maia leaves after testifying
Reuters
40/50
Nelson Lopez is questioned by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala
Reuters
41/50
Model Claudia Salinas leaves court after testifying
AP
42/50
Harvey Weinstein and lawyer, Donna Rotunna arrive at court smiling on 14 February
EPA
43/50
District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr watches as prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon gives her closing arguments in front of Judge James Burke on February 14
Reuters
44/50
Weinstein departs the same day with a smile on his face
Reuters
45/50
The press watch as Harvey Weinstein and his legal team arrive at the Criminal Court on February 18
Reuters
46/50
Judge James Burke, left, instructs the jurors before they begin deliberating on Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial. The panel of seven men and five women heard instructions in the law from the judge before going behind closed doors to consider charges
Elizabeth Williams via AP
47/50
Harvey Weinstein sits with his attorney Donna Rotunno as Judge James Burke instructs the jury on charges as they begin deliberations
Reuters
48/50
Women watch as Harvey Weinstein exits the courtroom
Reuters
49/50
Harvey Weinstein arrives to hear verdict
EPA
50/50
Weinstein sits at the defense table reading papers during jury deliberations
Reuters
“However, she’s announcing to the media that I have to leave to attend a funeral. I think it’s out of line and unprofessional.”
She added: “[Allred] doesn’t care that it’s wrong and it’s horrible behavior.”
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Allred reportedly disputed Rotunno’s claims during her own exchange with the attorney, telling her: “You are out of control! I did not say that! Once again, you are distorting the facts!”
Judge Burke warned Rotunno earlier this week not to speak to the press until the jury has reached a verdict.
The warning came after Rotunno published an opinion piece about the case for Newsweek, in which she wrote in part: “I implore the members of this jury to do what they know is right and was expected of them from the moment they were called upon to serve their civic duty in a court of law.”
The opinion piece was published after a controversial interview in which Rotunno said she had never been sexually assaulted because she had never put herself in a “position” to be attacked.
