In Harvey Weinstein’s trial, a social media influencer testifies after assuring that she will not be charged as an accomplice

After being subpoenaed by prosecutors, a social media influencer reluctantly commented after being assured she would not be charged as Harvey Weinstein’s accomplice.

Claudia Salinas, a dancer and influencer who met Weinstein in the early 2000s, was called by prosecutors questioning Salinas if she had led Jane Doe #2 to Weinstein’s hotel room where a sexual assault allegedly took place. Salinas denied the alleged version of events.

Before testifying, Salinas appeared before the judge Tuesday with her attorney, Scott Rosenblum, who raised concerns about her testimony and suggested she could invoke the Fifth Amendment.

Assistant District Attorney Paul Thompson said Rosenblum asked if his client Salinas could be charged as an accomplice. “I told him I haven’t charged her yet, I have no intention of charging her but it’s still within the law,” Thompson said, before explaining that she wouldn’t be charged but gave her no immunity be granted. With that, Salinas was called to testify Wednesday, during which she denied any involvement in luring women to Weinstein, including Jane Doe #2, whose name is Lauren Young.

Salinas had previously testified at Weinstein’s New York trial. During that trial, she also denied any connection to Young’s allegations.

Young said she first met Salinas at an industry dinner in 2012, where they discussed her desire to be a screenwriter. The two became friends that night and exchanged contact information, and a year later, in February 2013, Young said Salinas texted asking to take her and Weinstein for drinks at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, California meeting. Young said she brought a script that she hoped would hit Weinstein, and later that night Young claims she was attacked by Weinstein upstairs in his hotel suite. She claims Salinas helped her lead her upstairs and told the jury that when she was “trapped” by Weinstein in the hotel’s bathroom, she looked in the mirror and saw Salinas close the door and she left alone with Weinstein.

“I saw Claudia Salinas right there. I glared at her,” Young testified. “She did not say anything. she looked at me She had this evil look, like a grin – like she pulled me into something.”

During her testimony, Salinas said she remembered the cocktail meeting with Young and Weinstein at Montage, but said she never discussed a script with Young. When asked by Weinstein’s attorney, Mark Werksman, “Did you bring Jane Doe #2 to the meeting to sexually offer to Weinstein?” She replied, “Absolutely not.”

“Were you in the business of procuring women for Mr. Weinstein to have sex with?” Werksman asked Salinas. He also asked, “Did you act as a pimp for Mr. Weinstein?” Salinas answered no to both questions. She also testified that she did not see Young walk into a hotel bathroom with Weinstein and did not close a bathroom door behind Young and Weinstein.

“Have you ever stood in front of a bathroom while Mr. Weinstein was raping someone inside?” Werksmann asked. “Absolutely not,” Salinas replied.

When prosecutors questioned Salinas, Assistant Prosecutor Thompson inquired about her relationship with Weinstein and showed the jury emails confirming that Salinas had communicated with Weinstein about setting up meetings with Young.

Thompson pointed out that Salinas was a professional ballerina with no acting credentials when she met Weinstein in 2003, and shortly after meeting Weinstein, he cast her as a dancer in his 2004 film Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. Salinas confirmed that she has been cast in three films produced by Weinstein. When asked if she thinks Weinstein is “someone who could advance your career,” Salinas agreed.

The assistant prosecutor asked Salinas how the meeting with Young at Montage came about. He pointed out the age difference between Young, who would have been in her early 20s, and Weinstein, who was around 60 at the time.

“How many times have you seen Mr. Weinstein alone with a woman in her early 20s?” Thompson asked Salinas. The assistant prosecutor then asked Salinas if she would assist in “arranging” or “attending” meetings with Weinstein and young women.

Salinas said Weinstein was in town and asked her to meet him for a drink. She never showed up alone, so she brought a friend with her. Thompson reiterated why she invited Young, especially since they hadn’t seen each other since they first met a year ago. “I thought she was a nice girl to reconnect with. It wasn’t anything special,” Salinas said.

Thompson focused on the word “quirky” and asked again why she would bring Young. “She was a model. It would be good for her to meet Harvey Weinstein,” Salinas said.

The day after the alleged Montage attack, Young was called to The Weinstein Company offices to meet with one of Weinstein’s executives, Barbara Schneeweiss. When Young testified last week, she said she saw Salinas in the waiting room. “I told her, ‘Don’t fucking talk to me.’ She didn’t say anything,” Young told the jury.

On Wednesday, Salinas was repeatedly asked about this meeting with Young and Schneeweiss. She said several times that she did not remember the meeting, even when the prosecutor showed emails proving the meeting took place. “I’m not asking you that sarcastically. Is there something wrong with your memory?” Thompson asked Salinas. “No, my memory is fine,” she replied.

Thompson then showed Salinas the emails about the meeting. In an email, Weinstein complimented Schneeweiss, writing: “Well done with Claudia and [Jane Doe #2].”

“It looks like I went to that meeting, but I don’t remember that meeting,” said Salinas from the stands. “I still don’t remember that meeting, so it can’t tell you anything,” she said, before agreeing that she “apparently” was there.

Aside from this meeting, Weinstein had also invited Young to an Oscar party hosted by The Weinstein Company. Young did not attend and never saw Weinstein again. But communications between Salinas and The Weinstein Company show efforts to get her to the party. The prosecutor told the jury that when Salinas was invited to the Oscars party, she replied with one of her own friends, but was told by The Weinstein Company that she could only attend the party with Young as a guest.

“That was a little strange,” Salinas admitted.

“Mr. Weinstein wanted your help,” Thompson suggested bringing Young to the party. Salinas disagreed.

Thompson then asked if there had been any other conversations with Weinstein about Young that week, and Salinas paused before replying, “I don’t remember.”

The assistant prosecutor then showed Salinas an email from Weinstein asking Claudia to set up another meeting with her and Young. In the emails, Salinas says she has other plans but is texting back to coordinate the timing of meeting Young. “I didn’t offer anything,” Salinas said, pugnaciously contradicting Thompson’s question about helping Weinstein. “He was a business contact,” Salinas said. “I thought if he wanted to meet, why not?”

After about three hours on the witness stand, Salinas was released and left the courtroom looking shaken.