Almost a year ago, the already tumultuous 2016 presidential campaign was shaken up some more when the world heard GOP candidate Donald Trump, caught on a leaked 2005 recording, brag about sexually assaulting women — and saying he could get away with it because he’s a celebrity.

Liberals in Hollywood and elsewhere around the country rightly condemned Trump and said the recording showed he wasn’t fit to be president of the United States. In the first post-“Access Hollywood” debate, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton said the tape revealed exactly what Trump thinks about women — and what he does to them.

Stumping for Clinton a few days later, then-First Lady Michelle Obama gave an impassioned speech about why America should no longer tolerate men — especially men in power — assuming they have the right to talk about women in demeaning ways or to abuse their bodies and demand their sexual attention.

“This is not something that we can ignore,” Obama said, before digging into a deep well of outrage to say: “It is cruel. It’s frightening. And the truth is, it hurts. It hurts.”

A year later, both women, as well as other left-leaning stars of politics and Hollywood, have found themselves in the uncomfortable situation of being labeled hypocrites on the issue of sexual harassment and abuse. That’s because of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

On Thursday, the New York Times published a bombshell story that outlines a long history of sexual-harassment accusations against Weinstein, a major supporter of the Democratic Party, progressive causes and the careers of some of today’s most powerful stars.

The Atlantic said the Times story raises a series of difficult questions—for Weinstein, for the film business writ large, and for leaders of the Democratic Party

When it comes to the party, Weinstein has been a prolific fundraiser and donor. He’s written many checks, hosted fundraisers for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and rubbed elbows with leading Democrats, the Atlantic said. Weinstein, credited with spotting talent in aspiring film stars, called Obama “the Paul Newman of American presidents.” At gala 2013 events, Michelle Obama hailed Weinstein as a “really good person,” while then-President Barack Obama thanked him for his “friendship and support.”

But will the Obamas now take back those words in the wake of the Times report? What will Hillary Clinton say? People want to know.

Already, some left-leaning politicians or stars who enjoyed Weinstein’s support over the years have begun to speak out, or to at least signal that they were distancing themselves from him.

Of course, they have to, especially if they want to continue to have a voice on the need for gender equity in America and Hollywood or on the importance of taking women’s allegations of sexual assault seriously — as Clinton said we should in this 2015 tweet.

Every survivor of sexual assault deserves to be heard, believed, and supported. https://t.co/mkD69RHeBL — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 23, 2015

The Atlantic pointed out that the litany of accusations against Weinstein is reminiscent of similar accusations that were made against Trump in New York Times stories before the 2016 election. “Both stories record a catalog of behavior, similar in type, over the course of several decades, and the reports come from women who did not know each or know of each other’s accusations.”

From statements Weinstein issued in response to the Times report, it sounds like he was trying to get his liberal friends to give him a pass by essentially saying he’s one of them, the Atlantic added. In one statement, Weinstein quotes from Jay-Z’s soul-baring track “4:44,” trumpets his work on an anti-Trump film, and says he’s taken leave from his company to fight the National Rifle Association.

Another statement by Weinstein’s attorney Charles Harder strikes a more defiant tone, saying Weinstein is going to sue the Times, alleging its story is saturated with “false and defamatory statements.” Then again, the Harder statement again makes a plea to liberals by saying Weinstein will donate proceeds from his lawsuit to women’s organizations.

The conservative site the Washington Free Beacon said, “It’s so transparently obvious what Harvey Weinstein is saying here.” Weinstein is asserting, the Free Beacon said, “Guys, I’m a liberal, I’m going to go after the NRA, I’m going to make a movie that’s about how terrible Trump is, I’m giving money to liberal causes, whaddaya say about maybe giving me a pass here, huh?”

Others in the right-wing media are reveling in the liberal hypocrisy potential brought by the Weinstein scandal.

They rushed out stories pointing out that Weinstein visited the White House 13 times during Obama’s tenure, including four times when he was the guest of the first lady. Conservatives on Twitter are also trying to make issue of the fact that Malia Obama interned for Weinstein’s company last spring, before she headed off to her first year at Harvard. To them, her internship is either a sign of the Obamas’ coziness with Weinstein, or their deficiency as parents.

As of Friday morning, neither Clinton nor either of the Obamas had said anything about Weinstein, but other leading Democrats moved Thursday and Friday to distance themselves by giving away donations to their campaigns.

On Thursday, Sens. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts each said they would be passing off the donations – between $5,000 and $5,600 – to charities.

Then on Friday, New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said they would likewise give their Weinstein donations they to charity, Page Six said.

Gillibrand, who has been vocal in combatting sexual harassment in college campuses and in the military, said that she is donating the $11,500 in contributions she received to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual-violence group.

Two well-known members of Obama’s administration have slammed Weinstein. Jon Favreau, a onetime speechwriter who now co-host’s Crooked Media’s Pod Save America podcast, tweeted that Weinstein is “a horrible piece of s–t” and called on all Democrats to return their donations.

Tommy Vietor, the National Security Council spokesman under Obama and another Pod Save America podcast host, took to Twitter to call the movie mogul “a scumbag.” He added to the view that his alleged misconduct has long been an open secret in Hollywood — and perhaps in other liberal circles.

Harvey Weinstein has been a well-known scumbag for a long time via @rtraister https://t.co/vOkK35D93H — Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) October 6, 2017

Meanwhile, people also are waiting to see how Hollywood A-listers will react to the Times report, which includes actress Ashley Judd’s on-the-record accusations against Weinstein and details about how he settled lawsuits with eight women, including actress Rose McGowan.

Weinstein is beloved in Hollywood. That is, by stars whose films and careers were propelled by his nurture, financial support and famously aggressive awards-season campaigning.

As of 2015, Weinstein was the second-most-thanked member of Hollywood elite to be cited in Oscar acceptance speeches. In her 2012 acceptance speech, Meryl Streep put Weinstein on the level of God when she said: “I want to thank God – Harvey Weinstein. The punisher.” Weinstein is especially known for boosting the careers and Oscar chances of A-list actresses: Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet and Jennifer Lawrence.

The Daily Beast said Thursday it had reached out to dozens of prominent actors, actresses, and filmmakers — who both have and have not worked with Weinstein — only to receive many replies of “no comment” and “plenty of radio silence.”

However, some stars began to post reactions later Thursday, including McGowan. It appears, though, that those taking a stand against Weinstein probably don’t owe any gratitude to Weinstein for their political or Hollywood success:

Anyone who does business with __ is complicit. And deep down you know you are even dirtier. Cleanse yourselves. — rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 5, 2017

The woman who chose to speak about their experience of harassment by Harvey Weinstein deserve our awe. It's not fun or easy. It's brave. — 💎 Lena Dunham 💎 (@lenadunham) October 5, 2017

Heed the mantra and never forget: Women. Have. Nothing. To. Gain. And. Everything. To Lose. By. Coming. forward. https://t.co/ynKX1bcBkK — Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) October 5, 2017

Wealthy people buy silence with settlements.The confidentiality clause allows predators to hurt other people. For decades. https://t.co/3SAn2A2h24 — Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) October 5, 2017

This story has been updated to include moves by Sens. Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand and Cory Booker to return their Weinstein donations.