Famed film producer Harvey Weinstein has been accused of sexually assaulting women for decades. But he has one high-profile friend: Michelle Obama.
During a speech in 2013 at a film symposium, the then-First Lady showered Weinstein, who was a frequent visitor to the White House, with high praise.
“I want to start by thanking Harvey Weinstein for organizing this amazing day,” said Mrs. Obama. “This is possible because of Harvey. He is a wonderful human being, a good friend, and just a powerhouse.”
Weinstein was also a friend of Hillary Clinton—and one of her presidential campaign’s biggest benefactors. Weinstein hosted a fundraiser for the Democratic nominee back in June, and donated 10 times to her various political campaigns over the last decade.
Neither Michelle Obama nor Hillary Clinton have publicly disavowed Weinstein.
Weinstein responded to the accusations with an apology, published in the New York Times, stating he was sorry that “the way [he] behaved with colleagues in the past has cost a lot of pain.”
However, privately, Weinstein apparently is less apologetic—believing that the allegations are part of a “right-wing conspiracy” to take him down, because of his liberal views.
