Politics
Partisans, Wielding Money, Begin Seeking to Exploit Harassment Claims
By KENNETH P. VOGELDEC. 31, 2017
WASHINGTON — As the #MeToo movement to expose sexual harassment roils the nation’s capital, political partisans are exploiting the moment, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support accusers who come forward with charges against President Trump and members of Congress, even amid questions about their motivation.
As accusations take on a partisan tint, activists and lawyers fear that such an evolution could damage a movement that has shaken Hollywood, Silicon Valley, media suites in New York and the hallways of Congress — and has taken down both a Democratic fund-raiser, Harvey Weinstein, and a conservative stalwart, Bill O’Reilly.
“There is a danger in this environment that unsophisticated individuals who have been abused by powerful people could be exploited by groups seeking partisan advantage, or by lawyers seeking a moment in the limelight,†said Debra Katz, a Washington lawyer who has brought sexual harassment cases against politicians from both parties.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/31/us/politics/sexual-harassment-politics-partisanship.html
