Harvey Weinstein: The Fall of Hollywood’s Jabba the Hutt

Louis Conte’s The Truth be Told: Exploring corruption, controversy, and deception in today’s world from the perspective of a forensic psychophysiologist (Polygraph Examiner).

Louis Conte is a professional Polygraph Examiner, investigator, and writer. In addition to the thousands of offenders he interviewed over his thirty-three years in law enforcement, Conte has conducted over fourteen hundred polygraph cases. He uses well-honed observation skills to ferret out the truth. Observation and careful attention to words and behavior often reveal the truth.

The majority of my polygraph work focuses on Sex offenders. They often use power and control to manipulate their victims. Illustrating how offenders do this is often difficult as the behavior is rarely recorded on film. We hear about offenders’ behavior with their victims but, like most sexual offending behavior, it is done in secret. However, there is a video of Harvey Weinstein which illustrates this behavior. Weinstein is the disgraced film mogul who wielded enormous power is Hollywood.

When we hear about Harvey Weinstein, the image that comes to mind is that of a large, hideous, malevolent figure. He is reminiscent of the Star Wars character, Jabba the Hutt.

Is Harvey Weinstein like other sex offenders I have examined with polygraph over the years? My answer to that question is yes. Weinstein shares many similarities with them, particularly in his use of power and control but his arrogant use of it to coerce sexual access to women is remarkable.

Most of the people I come across have never had the kind of power that Weinstein had. Many of the offenders I polygraph never achieved anything close to the success that Weinstein achieved. But they still destroyed the lives of their victims, devastated their families, and ruined their own lives.

However, Weinstein is unique; he is a mega-predator. There are estimates that he had unwanted sexual contact with up to one thousand women.

I recall one of my cases where the perpetrator disclosed over two-hundred-fifty sexual victimizations. He too was placed in a unique work environment where he could abuse his authority over underage females, who were often escaping from broken homes and difficult living situations. To this day, I still lose sleep when I think of the damage that one man did to so many people.

There is a lot of internet material about Harvey Weinstein but most of it is news and commentary. However, I have found one video which shows what his behavior was like.

In this article by Sky News, Weinstein meets with a young woman named Melissa about a tech product she is looking to pitch to him. The software product helps promote films on social media and Weinstein’s endorsement of the product would be a breakthrough for Melissa’s tech company. It is reported that Weinstein met Melissa, briefly, once before but it is important to keep in mind that the two have no prior relationship.

This is not easy to watch.

One can see the manner in which Weinstein operated: He immediately began physical contact with Melissa. After advising an assistant that he is not to be disturbed, Weinstein closes the door and locks it. He immediately moves into Melissa’s physical space – a clear attempt to dominate and exert control over her. Weinstein waves away her handshake then inappropriately hugs Melissa and rubs her back. Melissa is clearly uncomfortable with this behavior.

Weinstein is a large man, and he is signaling that he controls the room, the meeting and by implication, Melissa.

Melissa is well dressed, professional and prepared to do demonstrate how her software product works. Weinstein is wearing a tee shirt and did not shave. The person with the power in a room can wear whatever they want and present themselves however they wish. Weinstein knows that he is the one with power.

Weinstein asks, “So, am I allowed to flirt with you?” He knows this question is inappropriate in a business meeting but asks it anyway. Weinstein is feigning courteousness, but his smile is sinister. When Melissa signaled her objection to his touching her, he backs off. Then, a few moments later, Weinstein begins touching her again. He does not respect her boundaries or accepted professional behavior. He touches her legs, out of frame, and then rubs her arms – basically, he is groping her.

Weinstein systematically wears her down. Melissa finds herself in a situation she tries to control but cannot. She wants to be successful in getting an important deal done with this powerful man, but he is overwhelming her. She clearly feels unsafe in Weinstein’s office. You can see that she moves her laptop camera to view another room he pulls her into.

Hard as this is to watch, it is important to note Weinstein’s approach – he initiates, then withdraws, moves in, then backs away. Eventually, he manipulates Melissa into a meeting him later that day in a hotel lobby - a public place that Melissa thought may be safe.

Ultimately, we learn that Weinstein was laying a trap and later that day, Melissa says he raped her in his hotel room.

Why is viewing this video important? Because it shows how a predator uses power and control to manipulate and victimize people. We often hear about men who act this way but rarely is the conduct captured on film this clearly.

Weinstein’s behavior toward women is disturbing.

However, it is important to point out that people around him knew that was he engaging in this behavior. It was clearly understood as this series of videos makes perfectly clear.

The truth be told, many people in the film industry knew that Harvey Weinstein was victimizing women but looked the other way. It was in their interest to do so because Weinstein had so much influence and power. They knew but still allowed the bully to run amok.

Weinstein would have victimized more women had it not been for courageous women who spoke out.

I will be teaching an on-line course in Truth and Deception at IPAK-EDU. Please consider enrolling here:

Thanks for your support!