Weinstein, fade to black

Again, a powerful man. Again, a decadeslong pattern of asking women to submit to humiliating advances or pay career consequences. Again, a coverup with non-disclosure agreements and secret payoffs. The good news is that, as evidenced by a nowsteady drumbeat of revelations about sexual harassment by men who once thought themselves bulletproof, the culture is changing.

The very bad news is that it far too often takes far too long, with so many people who know so much saying so little.

The exposed ogre this time is Hollywood mogul and Democratic Party megadonor Harvey Weinstein. Extensive reporting by The New York Times reveals that he has, over many years, reached settlements with at least eight women, for behavior that can only be called predatory.

Weinstein, now going on leave, must be removed from atop the privately held company he co-founded, and his accusers should be released from the non-disclosure agreements they signed so they can speak freely.

Already, reported accusations damning:

Actress Ashley Judd says that 20 years ago, after arriving at a Beverly Hills hotel for what she thought would be a business meeting, she was ushered up to Weinstein’s room. Wearing only a bathrobe, he asked if she would give him a massage, or watch him shower.

A temporary employee says she was invited to are deeply the same hotel in 2014. The mogul offered to help her career if she would accept his sexual advances.

An assistant to Weinstein claims that that same year he demanded she give him a massage while he was naked, leaving her crying and distraught.

Weinstein’s mortal sin was repeatedly using his perch atop two companies — first Miramax, then the Weinstein Company — to try to bend women to his personal will.

Shame on those who allowed what was an open secret in the corridors of the entertainment business to fester, while the putrid producer was received with wide-open arms.

Shame, too, on those who have fallen for Weinstein’s slimy attempt to divert attention from the accusations by issuing a rambling statement that invoked the gun lobby and Donald Trump.

Left-wing politics are no shield here. In fact, denizens of liberal Hollywood and the Democratic establishment have a special obligation to speak clearly against a man they propped up.

Kudos to the progressive politicians, Sen. Chuck Schumer among them, who are sending a strong signal by donating Weinstein’s contributions to women’s charities.

A stronger signal still would be the exposure, in real time, of lascivious behavior. Bill Cosby, Roger Ailes, Weinstein and others got away with it thanks in no small part to the coterie of allies who closed ranks around them.

When harassers are outed and shunned instantly, we will have made genuine progress.