Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s publicist made a phone call to journalist Ronan Farrow in 2017 and noted the Harvey Weinstein story he was working on was a “concern” for Clinton, Farrow’s upcoming book alleges.
“Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators” gives a detailed account of the sexual assault allegations against now-disgraced movie mogul Weinstein and the cover-up attempts made by those “from Hollywood to Washington and beyond,” an Amazon book description reads.
Nick Merrill, Clinton’s publicist at the time, allegedly played a roll in pushing for the story to be dropped, Farrow’s book reads according to The Hollywood Reporter. Merrill reportedly called Farrow in 2017 and said the “big story” he was working on about Weinstein was a “concern” for the former first lady.
The New Yorker published Farrow’s Weinstein story on Oct. 10, 2017, and the story detailed a 10-month investigation by Farrow. Thirteen women accused Weinstein of sexually harassing or assaulting them, the article reads. Farrow’s book, available Oct. 15, delves into the cover-up attempts that he discovered during the investigation.
The Weinstein Company fired Weinstein in October 2017 and authorities arrested him in 2018 on rape and sexual misconduct allegations. Prosecutors indicted him for a third time in 2019 and Weinstein’s trial is expected to be in January 2020.
The Pulitzer-prize winning investigative journalist’s book includes an allegation that Weinstein used his long-term relationship with Clinton to try to pressure Farrow into dropping the investigation.
The phone call came as Farrow was trying to get an interview with Clinton for a foreign policy book he was working on in summer 2017, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (RELATED: Harvey Weinstein Accusers Reach $44 Million Settlement In Sexual Misconduct Case)
Weinstein wrote to ex-President of NBC News and current head of NBC News International Deborah Turness in September 2017, according to an email cited in the book. He pitched the network a docuseries with Clinton, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Turness reportedly replied saying that the idea “sounds absolutely stunning.”
Sen. Hillary Clinton and Harvey Weinstein arrive at the Brooklyn Museum for the premiere of Miramax Films “Finding Neverland” Oct. 25, 2004 in New York City. (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Weinstein’s friendship with Clinton extended into her 2016 campaign and he donated over $26,000 to campaigns or committees backing her dating back to 2000, Business Insider reported. Weinstein also donated $10,000 to former President Bill Clinton when he faced impeachment in 1998, according to a 2017 New York Times article.
Hillary Clinton’s aides warned her about Weinstein’s treatment of women, The NYT article noted. Hillary Clinton spoke out and condemned Weinstein following the allegations.
“I was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinstein,” she said in 2017. “The behavior described by women coming forward cannot be tolerated. Their courage and the support of others is critical in helping to stop this kind of behavior.
Merrill did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the Daily Caller News Foundation but tweeted about the allegation Wednesday afternoon.
“I genuinely respect Ronan’s work, but have no idea what Weinstein was saying to people to save himself,” Merrill wrote. “What I do know is simple: I’d already rejected a Weinstein Co proposed doc about the election before talking to Ronan. If HW misrepresented facts, it wouldn’t be the 1st time.”
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