Harvey Weinstein has been fired by The Weinstein Company after sexual harassment claims leveled against the producer of numerous Oscar-winning movies.

"In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company — Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar — have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately," the Weinstein Company Board said in a statement.

A spokesperson for company declined to provide details on Weinstein's firing.

The New York Times reported Thursday that Harvey Weinstein has over the years reached at least eight legal settlements with women over alleged harassment.

Weinstein on Thursday issued a lengthy statement that acknowledged causing "a lot of pain." He also asked for "a second chance." But he and his lawyers have criticized the Times' report in statements and interviews.

Members of the board have already discussed changing the corporate name, TheWrap reported, citing a source with knowledge of the matter.

Weinstein and his family have given more than $1.4 million in political contributions since the 1992 election cycle, nearly all of it to Democratic lawmakers, candidates and their allies, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Congressional Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have begun giving charities thousands of dollars in donations they had received from Weinstein.

The biggest beneficiary of funds from Weinstein and his family was the Democratic National Committee, which received about $800,000 in several of its accounts, according to the center. Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said the party plans to give more than $30,000 to Emily's List, Emerge America and Higher Heights.

Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said the party plans to give more than $30,000 to Emily's List, Emerge America and Higher Heights.

Rutgers University says it will not return a $100,000 donation from movie mogul Harvey Weinstein for a position named after women's rights advocate Gloria Steinem. The university said Friday that Weinstein's donation was one of more than 425 that has been used to Gloria Steinem Chair in Media, Culture, and Feminist Studies at the school. The school says it can think of "no better use" of the donation than to apply it to the position and its work.

—The Associated Press contributed to this report.