empire using the photographs has nothing to do with Newmark's behaviour. The publication of the photographs by the press (note, not the Mirror) was just as bad as the use of the photographs by the journalist.
You've obviously been reading different accounts from me. I'm not sure where you're getting your information but the only two accounts that are relevant are the journalist's and Newmark's and I haven't seen a clear account from him anywhere, just a lot of dissembling from his supporters.
The Mirror has apologised to the women for the use of their pictures, which were not published by the Mirror but were published by other newspapers. I've just noticed your comment above:
During a late-night chat with the undercover reporter, who had sent him an explicit picture supposedly of “Sophie”, Newmark asked for a more explicit picture “without your hands in the way and legs parted”. He then said: “I will send you something in return – that way we each have a secret.”
So the reporter sent an explicit photo first, and BN asked for another one, and also sent one himself.
This quote does not indicate whether he asked for the first picture. Also, it clearly wasn't as explicit as he wanted as he asked for no hands in the way and legs parted.
Did he offer career favours in exchange for photos? No. Do you not think that his belief that he was dealing with a junior woman within his realm of power bolstered his belief that he could do this without being caught? GF has indicated that this was targetted at him because of complaints about his previous behaviour.
Did he initiate the photos? No. How do you know this?
Did he start the flirting? It's not clear. Did he initiate contact? No. He initiated the private messaging. People tweet at public figures all the time, public figures don't follow them back to send private messages. That is initiating contact.
Perhaps you can suggest how a journalist would investigate claims that a minister, who is campaigning to increase the participation of women in politics, has a reputation for being sleazy with said women, if none of the women are willing to put their names on the record? How are such things to be uncovered?