Weinstein links to Democrats in spotlight
By Harriet Alexander in New York
and Kate Mccann
Senior Political correspondent
LEADING Democrats were under pressure last night to return their campaign contributions from Harvey Weinstein, as the fallout from the sex scandal engulfing the Hollywood mogul spread to Washington.
The film producer was yesterday on his way to an undisclosed location in Europe for rehab after his wife, Georgina Chapman, announced she was leaving him. It was reported last night that Weinstein’s daughter made a 911 emergency call concerning her father’s welfare and his mental state yesterday morning. A video appeared to show him disorientated outside her home.
Calls grew yesterday for Weinstein to be stripped of his CBE, and Cara Delevingne and Heather Graham became the latest stars to allege they had suffered sexual harassment from him.
New York-born Weinstein, 65, had over the course of 25 years raised more than $2.2million (£1.7million) in donations for the Democrats, both through personal contributions and “bundles”, funds raised by rallying his friends.
By last year, Weinstein had donated more than $26,000 to Hillary Clinton,
and put another $15,000 into the political action committee HILLPAC, over 17 years of her political career. A fundraiser for her election campaign in June 2016 raised more than $1.8million for her presidential run. Weinstein was also a supporter of Barack Obama, eventually donating more than $45,000.
The Obamas sent their daughter Malia to intern for Weinstein’s company last year.
Both the Obamas and Mrs Clinton on Tuesday issued statements condemning Weinstein – five days after the scandal first broke. But neither mentioned returning the funds.
Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, senators for New York, quickly donated the contributions he had made to their campaigns to charity. But Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York, who received $60,000, has not followed suit, the New York Republicans allege.
Republicans noted the relative slowness of Democrats’ response and made calls for them to return donations. “During three decades’ worth of sexual harassment allegations, Harvey Weinstein lined the pockets of Democrats to the tune of three-quarters of a million dollars,” said Ronna Romney Mcdaniel, chairman of the Republican National Committee. “If Democrats and the DNC
‘If we could have prosecuted Harvey Weinstein for the conduct that occurred in 2015, we would have’
truly stand up for women like they say they do, then returning this dirty money should be a no-brainer.”
The Manhattan district attorney’s office defended a decision by Cy Vance, the former district attorney who is also a Democrat, not to prosecute Weinstein in 2015 when handed an audio tape from an actress, Ambra Battilana Gutiérrez, in which Weinstein admitted groping her. Months later, Mr Vance received a $10,000 campaign contribution from David Boies, Weinstein’s lawyer. “If we could have prosecuted Harvey Weinstein for the conduct that occurred in 2015, we would have,” said Karen Friedman-agnifilo, assistant district attorney.
“While the recording is horrifying to listen to, what emerged from the audio was insufficient to prove a crime under New York law, which requires prosecutors to establish criminal intent.”
Donald Trump Jr mocked Mrs Clinton in a tweet: “Weird, Hillary has been really quiet about Harvey Weinstein.”
In the UK, Labour MPS vowed to refer Weinstein to the honours forfeiture committee yesterday, meaning he could be stripped of his CBE.
A spokesman for Theresa May said the reports were “deeply concerning” but highlighted the independence of the committee which has the power to remove an honour bestowed by the UK – something the Prime Minister cannot do herself.