Schumer to donate Harvey Weinstein contributions

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is joining a growing list of Democrats who are donating their contributions from film producer Harvey Weinstein following allegations of sexual harassment.

“Sen. Schumer is donating all of the contributions to several charities supporting women,” said Matt House, a spokesman for the Democratic leader.

Schumer is expected to donate $14,200, the total amount he has received in contributions from Weinstein.

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Democrats are rushing to distance themselves from Weinstein, a prominent Democratic donor, after The New York Times published an exposé Thursday that contained detailed accusations from actresses who had previously worked with the producer.

Republicans immediately seized on the allegations, urging Democrats to return or donate contributions Weinstein has made to them over the decades.

Several Democratic senators have announced that they will give their contributions to charity. 

A spokeswoman for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) told The Washington Post that she would donate $11,800 to RAINN, an anti-sexual assault group.

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) is expected to give donations from Weinstein, including those made to his PAC, to the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, according to the Post.

Democratic Sens. Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) have also said they would give to charity the amount of money equal to that of Weinstein’s donations.

A spokesman for Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) told The Los Angeles Times that she will donate her contributions to women’s charities, but hasn’t yet decided on the organizations. NBC News noted that Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) is donating $7,800 to the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

The film producer issued a statement Thursday following the Times report in which he apologized for his behavior and announced he was taking a leave of absence from his company. 

But he’s also planning to sue the Times, claiming that the lawsuit is in response to the newspaper’s “inability to be honest with me, and their reckless reporting.”