Liberal comedienne Lena Dunham told the New York Times that she warned Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign about Hollywood producer and Democratic mega-donor Harvey Weinstein's mistreatment of women.
A Times story published Wednesday relayed how Weinstein's "complicity machine" operated, complete with how he would use his friendship with powerful Democratic politicians to silence his victims.
"I know the president of the United States. Who do you know?" he would say during Barack Obama's presidency, according to the Times.
Dunham, a vocal Clinton supporter, claimed that she told members of Clinton's campaign that Weinstein was a rapist after being troubled by his visible presence hosting fund-raisers and appearing at campaign events for the candidate.
"I just want you to let you know that Harvey's a rapist and this is going to come out at some point," she said she told deputy communications director Kristina Schake.
"I think it's a really bad idea for him to host fund-raisers and be involved because it's an open secret in Hollywood that he has a problem with sexual assault," she recalled adding.
Dunham said that Schake promised to take the information to Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook. The comedienne also said she told Adrienne Elrod, the Clinton staffer in charge of celebrity endorsements.
Magazine editor and Daily Beast founder Tina Brown also told the Times she warned a member of Clinton's inner circle in 2008 about Weinstein.
"I was hearing that Harvey's sleaziness with women had escalated since I left Talk in 2002 and she was unwise to be so closely associated with him," Brown said.
Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill denied both charges in a statement. Regarding Dunham's claims, Merrill retorted, "Only she can answer why she would tell them instead of those who could stop him."
Clinton received criticism earlier this year for not coming forward sooner to denounce the sexual assault accusations against Weinstein, who has donated thousands of dollars to Clinton throughout her political career. She came out with a statement in October saying that she was "shocked and appalled by the revelations."