Harvey Weinstein, the Hollywood producer who is facing numerous accusations of sexual harassment, has given hundreds of thousands to Democratic campaigns and committees since the early 2000s, a review of federal election filings show.
The New York Times reported Thursday that Weinstein has paid settlements to eight different women stemming from sexual harassment allegations. Many more women had said they were harassed but did not receive a settlement.
Weinstein—who has been politically active for decades, backing a number of big name Democrats—has poured hundreds of thousands into campaigns and committees that include the likes of former President Barack Obama and failed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Weinstein has hosted numerous fundraisers for Obama and Clinton, with celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Matthew Broderick attending glitzy events for Clinton this past election cycle.
Weinstein owns a home next door to a $50,000-a-week vacation home the Clintons previously rented, and he has maxed out donations ($5,400) to Clinton's failed presidential campaign while adding more than $30,000 to the Hillary Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee between Clinton's campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and more than 30 state Democratic parties. He has also given at least $250,000 to the Clinton Foundation.
Weinstein gave $5,000 in donations to Obama's 2012 campaign, with another $66,000 going to his victory fund.
The campaigns of a number of Democratic senators have also recently received Weinstein's cash.
Sens. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) has received $14,200 from Weinstein since the early 2000's; Cory Booker (D., NJ) has taken $7,800; Kirsten Gillibrand (D., NY) was given $11,800; Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.) $5,600; Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn. ) $5,400; Al Franken (D., Minn.) $10,000; Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) $5,000 ; Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) $1,000; Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I. ) $1,000; and Martin Heinrich (D., NM), who has received $5,400 from Weinstein just this year.
Weinstein has contributed six-figure sums to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). Weinstein has given more than $100,000 to the DNC while tens of thousands of dollars have gone to the DSCC.
In total, Weinstein has donated nearly $600,000 to Democratic campaigns and committees since the early 2000s, according to data from Political Moneyline.
Weinstein also gave $10,000 to the Human Rights Campaign just last year.