How NBC and Access Hollywood got scooped on their own story: TV execs viewed Trump hot mic video a WEEK ago, but it leaked while they were 'debating' what to do with the tape

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It's a story that has got everyone talking and has even prompted some Republicans to call for Donald Trump to step down as presidential candidate.

But while NBC waited to release the shocking hot mic video of Trump bragging about how he could grab women 'by the p***y' while on the set of  'Access Hollywood', they were scooped on their own story.

The footage had been sat and forgotten on a shelf at the network for more than a decade.

It was only after Trump made his derogatory comments about former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, who he branded 'Miss Piggy', that a producer at 'Access Hollywood' remembered the taping session with the show's co-host Billy Bush, CNN reports.

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NBC and Access Hollywood were scooped on their own story after video of Trump (left) telling Billy Bush (right) that stars like him can grab women 'by the p***y' was leaked

Executives decided to review the tape last Monday to see if he'd said anything which could be considered news. 

The footage featured the Donald chatting and joking with a laughing Bush about how stars can 'do anything' to women, including grabbing them 'by the p***y'.

Trump, then newly married to his wife Melanie, began by telling how he 'immediately' kissed women without waiting - and how they allowed him to because he was a 'star'. 

'You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them.

'It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.'

'Grab them by the p***y. You can do anything.'   

Trump had also claimed to have tried unsuccessfully to get Bush's co-host at the time, Nancy O'Dell, to have sex with him.

In the recording released by the Washington Post on Friday, Trump could be hear saying: 'And when you're a star they let you do it. Can do anything. Whatever you want. Grab them by the p**y'

A source at NBC said executives were 'debating what to do' with the tape. By Friday, Access Hollywood executive producer Rob Silverstein had made the decision to broadcast it.

However, executives decided to wait to air the damning footage of Trump and the former Access Hollywood host, who could be heard laughing and appearing to egg Trump on during the 2005 discussion, on Monday.

A source confirmed that Access was working on a story, and that NBC News knew about it, but said that it wasn't quite finalized by Friday morning.

They had just decided to postpone the story when Silverstein became aware that the Washington Post had got its hands on a copy.

Post reporter David Fahrenthold said in his story he had been contacted at around 11am by his source at NBC who told him about the footage.

Executives at NBC were debating what to do with footage of Trump before deciding to broadcast it onMonday

When he called the network at around noon that same day, NBC executives were shocked.

Silverstein told Page Six on Friday:  'I don't know who leaked it. I have no idea.'

After the Post called for comment, NBC News and Access Hollywood rushed to finish their stories.

On Friday evening, NBC's Natalie Morales reported on the tape. 

But it was too late. The Post became the first to break the story, hours ahead of the network on Friday. 

Since the story broke, dozens of Republicans have pulled their support for Donald Trump and even his own VP candidate has criticized his comments as offensive and even Trump's own wife Melania denounced the discussion on Saturday, saying his words were 'unacceptable' and 'offensive'. 

Today Show co-host Bush,(left with Savannah Guthrie on the Today Show) will not face any punishment from NBC

Meanwhile Today Show co-host Bush, will not face any punishment from NBC.

Bush made a public apology on Friday for his role in the discussion, saying: 

'Obviously I'm embarrassed and ashamed. It's no excuse, but this happened eleven years ago— I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along. I'm very sorry.'

Bush is still 'hoping' to issue a heartfelt apology directly to Nancy O'Dell on the Today Show.

'Billy wanted his public apology to speak for him, to speak to the people who are bashing him and speak to everyone he hurt,' a source told HollywoodLife.com. 'He hopes to speak to Nancy at some point but has yet to reach out personally. '

He is also expected to address the incident on Monday's broadcast of 'Today.' 

The Wall Street Journal reports that NBC will not seek to reprimand or punish the host after his apology.