The fact that Harvey Weinstein is a human trash bag is apparent to anyone who has been following the harrowing stories that have surfaced over the last while.

For more than 20 years, he used his position of power in Hollywood to sexually harass and assault numerous women.

While many of these women have come forward, especially in light of the #MeToo movement, the stories are largely recounted. As is the case with a lot of sexual assault or harassment, there is often little to no physical evidence, especially if the crime was committed years before.

Now, a video has surfaced that shows the creep in action during a meeting with businesswoman Melissa Thompson, reports Sky News.

The footage, which has never been broadcast before, shows him hugging, touching and making sexually suggestive comments to 28-year-old Melissa Thompson.

Content warning – the footage is unsettling.

Ms Thompson was at The Weinstein Company offices in New York in September 2011 to pitch her tech start-up company’s new video and analytics service.

As part of the demo, she recorded the meeting.

A few hours afterwards, at a hotel nearby, Ms Thompson alleges that Weinstein raped her.

Weinstein, who wasn’t even supposed to be at the meeting, denies that any non-consensual act took place.

Thompson thought that she would be meeting with the marketing team. Instead, Weinstein arrived alone. In an interview with Sky, Thompson relates the tricks and manipulation that predators often use when priming their victims:

“Now I see he’s trying, in any way he can, to move me into that zone of comfortable then uncomfortable and confused, and vulnerable, and recognising that he’s powerful and I’m not, and that I need this deal from him, and he has the power to give it to me.

“I think (he) was playing a cat-and-mouse game from the very beginning to see how far he could push me, and what my reactions might be, so that he could gauge… how he would play me; where my levers where, what were my vulnerabilities.”

At points in the video Ms Thompson appears flustered, and loses her train of thought as she tries to continue her pitch.

Thompson says that after agreeing to use the technology to promote his movies, Weinstein put his hand up her dress. The Guardian notes that:

The video only captures the two from the waist up but does show Thompson reacting with discomfort and telling Weinstein: “That’s too high. That’s too high.”

It also shows her joking about his advances, saying that “data is hot”.

Sky News aired only portions of the video. Weinstein’s lawyer said the full video “demonstrates that there is nothing forceful” and shows “casual, if not awkward, flirting from both parties”.

“Anything short of that is intended to make Mr Weinstein appear inappropriate and even exploitative,” lawyer Ben Brafman said. “It was produced by Ms Thompson to bolster her position in a civil lawsuit seeking money. This is a further attempt to publicly disgrace Mr Weinstein for financial gain and we will not stand for it. Facts do matter.”

I hope there’s a special place in hell reserved for Weinstein’s lawyer. The two of them can burn together.

As for public disgrace – he did that to himself.

[sources:sky&guardian]