Patrick Leahy Becomes The First Democrat To Give Away His Donation From Filmmaker Harvey Weinstein

[DonViejo]

Source: The Daily Beast




The filmmaker stands accused of serial sexual harassment. And now his political beneficiaries are scrambling.

SCOTT BIXBY
10.05.17 4:54 PM ET

A spokesman for Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said on Thursday that he intends to give the $2,700 that film producer Harvey Weinstein donated to his re-election committee away to charity.

The statement came just hours after a bombshell New York Times story on Tuesday alleging that Weinstein had sexually harassed employees and actresses for decades, beneficiaries of the producer’s largesse have begun distancing themselves from a powerful former benefactor.

Leahy is one of nearly a half-dozen Democratic politicians and liberal political groups to have benefitted from Weinstein’s generosity in the most recent campaign cycle. In addition to the $2,700 donation to Leahy in the most recent campaign cycle, Weinstein donated $5,400 to the re-election campaigns of Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). Weinstein also donated $30,858.13 to the Democratic National Committee in 2016, and gave $10,000 to the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Votes PAC.

The filmmaker reached the apex of Hollywood power by paying the way for hugely successful motion pictures—and has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to political candidates and causes. Leahy is the first to announce that he would be giving his Weinstein donation away. The Senator’s longtime campaign manager Carolyn Dwyer could not specify the nature of the charity, noting that Leahy is currently traveling. The Daily Beast has reached out to others who have received contributions from Weinstein, but did not immediately hear back on whether those donations would be returned or redirected to charity.

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/patrick-leahy-becomes-the-first-democrat-to-give-away-his-donation-from-filmmaker-harvey-weinstein

[Freethinker65]

1. Good on Leahy. Donating the money to charity seems appropriate in this situation.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

2. Good.

[Seeking Serenity]

3. I hope they all do, and that this sexual predator isn't given a pass

Because he gives to and hosts fundraisers for Democratic candidates and causes. He should be a pariah in all Democratic circles now.

Go away, creep, and thanks for all the fish.

[whathehell]

4. +100. n/t

[Stuart G]

5. I read the NY Times article above..It is truly ugly.

This producer has been sexually harassing employees for 30 years. Very detailed article. What a total asshole. And we are not talking about one or two incidents. You need to read the article to get a feel for this. Maybe 50 or maybe 30, maybe 100..so many were not reported.....who knows.??

[They_Live]

6. This is the first I have heard of the Weinstein situation

I may have to stop watching movies altogether if revelations such as this continue. And I love movies.

I was watching the film Titus, director Julie Taymor's film of Shakepeare's play starring Anthony Hopkins, and noticed the executive producer was Stephen Bannon, and confirmed it was indeed the same. Mouth vomit. Then I noticed all the executive producer credits For Steve Mnuchin. Woody Allen child rape accusations. Clint Eastwood and his stupid chair monologue. Stallone idiocy. Of course Roman Polanski. etc. etc. on and on.

[oberliner]

9. Don't forget Bill Cosby

Among the countless others.

[They_Live]

10. Right.

I actually did mean to include him. I listened to his comedy albums as a child and watched "Fat Albert", as well.

[oberliner]

11. I was a huge fan of Cosby as a child also

Very depressing to learn what he was really like.

[Sgent]

7. This is horrible

Ashley Judd's story in in the NY Times article.

Not mentioned by NY Times was this oblique reference by Rose McGown:

Because my ex sold our movie to my rapist for distribution #WhyWomenDontReport

Link to tweet

"On the Blemish, Chuck Liddle did the math: McGowan appeared in Grindhouse, directed by Robert Rodriguez, with whom she was having an affair; Grindhouse was released by the Weinstein Company. “Who raped Rose McGowan?” Liddle asked, concluding facetiously, “Definitely not Harvey Weinstein.”

https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/10/5/16431848/harvey-weinstein-sexual-harassment-rumors

[oberliner]

8. More have since followed

See here:

Democrats Begin Shunning Harvey Weinstein Campaign Donations

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029680806