Day 6

Donna Rotunno is a self-declared feminist who is leading Harvey Weinstein's legal defense

Rotunno is a harsh critic of the #MeToo movement who has built a career defending men accused of sex crimes. Vanity Fair writer Maureen O'Connor says she's "utterly unafraid" of the reputation that comes with that.

Rotunno has built a career defending men accused of sex crimes

Film producer Harvey Weinstein, accompanied by his attorney Donna Rotunno, arrives at New York Criminal Court on Jan. 10, 2020. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

Donna Rotunno is a self-declared feminist with a deep distrust of the #MeToo movement and she may soon be a household name — as Harvey Weinstein's lead attorney.

Rotunno, a Chicago, Ill.-based lawyer, has built a career defending men accused of sex crimes. She is leading Weinstein's defence team in his trial for rape and sexual assault.

"She is no-nonsense, utterly self-assured ... and utterly unafraid and uncowed by the negative reputation that comes with defending people accused of sex crimes," says Maureen O'Connor, a writer who is covering the trial for Vanity Fair.

Rotunno's work attracted attention when, on Monday, a key witness in the case broke down into uncontrollable sobbing while Rotunno was cross-examining her.

"This wasn't even Donna [Rotunno] at her most aggressive," O'Connor told Day 6 host Brent Bambury.  

To hear the full interview with Maureen O'Connor, download our podcast or click Listen above.