Former Democratic governor Terry McAuliffe received a $100,000 campaign donation from a hedge fund billionaire who faced public condemnation when he consoled Harvey Weinstein as the movie producer was engulfed by allegations of sexual harassment and unwanted sexual contact.
Paul Tudor Jones, 66, a former board member at Weinstein's production company, was forced to publicly distance himself from the disgraced Hollywood mogul after it emerged he wrote to tell the producer the accusations would soon be forgotten.
His donation to McAuliffe's gubernatorial campaign was revealed by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project.
The Virginia race, one of only two statewide contests this year, could set state records for campaign spending as McAuliffe takes on Republican Glenn Youngkin.
But the ties to Jones could embarrass a campaign that has sought to portray its opponent as anti-women.
The New York Times obtained an email message sent by Jones on October 7, 2017, the day before Weinstein was ousted from his own company
'I love you,' he wrote, reportedly offering a blueprint for Weinstein to rehabilitate his image.
'Focus on the future as America loves a great comeback story... The good news is, this will go away sooner than you think and it will be forgotten!'
As allegations of sexual misconduct against Harvey Weinstein emerged in October 2017, hedge fund billionaire Paul Tudor Jones wrote him an email telling the producer: 'The good news is this will go way sooner than you think and it will be forgotten'
Jones donated $100,000 to former Gov. Terry McAuliffe's campaign in a high-spending Virginia gubernatorial race against Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin
A spokesman for Tudor Investment Corporation responded to a request for comment by highlighting the statement sent by Jones to employees in December 2017 explaining his actions.
'I deeply believe in redemption, but what I know now is that Harvey was a friend I believed too long and defended too long,' he said.
'Perhaps in your own life you have faced a similar dilemma — how to react to a friend who is revealed to be someone other than the person you believed him or her to be.'
Jones served on the board of Weinstein Co. until it emerged in October of 2017 that Weinstein had reached financial settlements with women who accused him of sexual misconduct.
Last year the producer was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a New York court after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault.
He faces further charges in California.
Like many in Weinstein's orbit, Jones said he was unaware of the allegations until they emerged in media reports, although it was later reported that the company had been aware of the payouts.
