Report: Lincoln Project leadership knew about sexual harassment claims as early as last March



Several top leaders of the anti-Trump Super PAC, the Lincoln Project, were aware of sexual harassment allegations against one of its co-founders, John Weaver, as early as last March, the 19th reported Tuesday.

The news raises serious questions about the Lincoln Project's handling of the controversy, especially considering the organization claimed in a statement last month that it was "shocked" when the allegations started surfacing.

Critics now allege that the organization covered up the allegations so as not to distract from its efforts to boot former President Donald Trump from the Oval Office.

Weaver, a longtime establishment Republican strategist who advised the late Sen. John McCain and former Gov. John Kasich before going on to launch the anti-Trump political operation, admitted in January to sending "inappropriate" sexually suggestive messages to multiple young men over the course of his career in politics.

Weaver's admission followed public accusations from several young men — a number now totaling at least 21 — similarly recalling how Weaver demonstrated grooming behavior by sending unsolicited sexually charged messages often alongside promises of career advancement. One of the accusers was a 14-year-old boy who claims Weaver asked him about his body.

The veteran operative, who is married to a woman and has two children, announced he is gay in a statement and apologized to the young men he harassed, saying he thought at the time the exchanges were "consensual mutual conversations."

The Associated Press previously reported the organization's leadership was informed about at least 10 specific allegations of harassment against Weaver last June, including two involving Lincoln Project employees. The informers detailed the allegations in writing and in subsequent phone calls to the Super PAC's leaders.

That also stands in contrast to the Lincoln Project's statement, which declared that "at no time was John Weaver in the physical presence of any member of The Lincoln Project."

On Monday, the Lincoln Project told the 19th it had hired outside counsel to conduct a "comprehensive review of our operations and culture." Embroiled in controversy, the organization has also hastily released current and former employees from nondisclosure agreements.

"We are committed to creating a positive, diverse, and inclusive workplace environment at The Lincoln Project and inappropriate behavior by anyone associated with the organization will not be tolerated under any circumstances. We have already taken decisive action to address internal concerns," co-founder Reed Galen told the progressive outlet.

The Lincoln Project continues to implode as co-founder Steve Schmidt resigns



The Lincoln Project continued to implode amid numerous scandals that culminated with the resignation of co-founder Steve Schmidt.

The political action group was organized by Republicans aligned against former President Donald Trump but it has been plagued by numerous claims of sexual harassment and abuse against co-founder John Weaver, who has since left the group.

Schmidt resigned on Friday and released a lengthy statement explaining the reasons behind his exit. The statement described sexual abuse he suffered as a 13-year-old boy and how it led to lifelong depression and anger. Schmidt then recounted how he met Weaver at a campaign event when Schmidt worked for the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

"During all the time I worked for John McCain I never heard a single person ever whisper that John Weaver was a predator," said Schmidt in the statement.

"I did not have a professional relationship with John Weaver again until December 2019. I have said on the record that I learned about John Weaver's misconduct this past January. I know this is true, and I have certainty that the Lincoln Project independent investigation into John Weaver's conduct will validate this," he continued.

"I detest John Weaver will be a life-long companion for them in the way that Ray has been for me. I detest John Weaver in a way I can't articulate. My heart breaks that young men felt unseen and unheard in an organization that I started. I am ashamed of it. I promise that we will release the full findings of what we discover through an independent investigation," Schmidt said.

He went on to apologize to Jennifer Horn, another co-founder who had resigned previously, over an incident where a private correspondence between her and a reporter was released to the public.

"Presently, the Lincoln Project board is made up of four middle-aged white men," said Schmidt. "That composition doesn't reflect our nation, nor our movement. I am resigning my seat on the Lincoln Project board to make room for the appointment of a female board member ass the first step to reform and professionalize the Lincoln Project."

He concluded by saying he was take a break to "get healthy mentally, physically and spiritually."

Earlier on Friday a report said that the FBI was investigating the claims of sexual abuse by John Weaver.

Here's more about the scandal at The Lincoln Project:

Lincoln Project Condemns Co-Founder After Allegations Of Sexual Harassment | NBC News NOWwww.youtube.com

Report: FBI is investigating allegations against Lincoln Project's John Weaver



The FBI is reportedly investigating allegations of sexual misconduct made against longtime establishment Republican operative and Lincoln Project co-founder John Weaver.

Two individuals who spoke to reporter Yashar Ali said they were contacted by FBI agents who made inquiries regarding whether Weaver ever touched them inappropriately or requested sexually explicit material from them when they were underage.

Ali reported that his sources said the investigators' questions were "narrow in scope" and that it is not clear how wide the FBI investigation is. He also noted in his newsletter that "the FBI asking potential witnesses about allegations of illegal conduct does not necessarily mean that someone is the subject or a target of a federal investigation."

Weaver, 61, was formerly a top political adviser to John McCain and John Kasich before going on to found the anti-Trump Lincoln Project. Allegations of sexual misconduct against him were first reported in the American Conservative and later in Forensic News.

At least 21 young men have come forward to accuse Weaver of sexual harassment online, including one 14-year-old boy who claims Weaver asked him about his body. These men accuse Weaver of leveraging his powerful position in politics to manipulate them, promising networking and career favors in exchange for sex.

Weaver, who is married with two children, admitted in January that he had sent "inappropriate" messages to multiple men, apologized for misinterpreting what he says he thought were "consensual mutual conversations," and announced he is gay.

In a statement he made to the New York Times, Weaver said: "I am so disheartened and sad that I may have brought discomfort to anyone in what I thought at the time were mutually consensual discussions. In living a deeply closeted life, I allowed my pain to cause pain for others. For that I am truly sorry to these men and everyone and for letting so many people down."

Other founding members of the Lincoln Project claim to have been "shocked" by the allegations against Weaver and deny any prior knowledge of allegations of sexual misconduct made against Weaver.

"No Lincoln Project employee, intern, or contractors ever made an allegation of inappropriate communication about John Weaver that would have triggered an investigation by HR or by an outside employment counsel," Lincoln Project co-founder Steve Schmidt told the Associated Press in a Wednesday interview. "In other words, no human being ever made an allegation about any inappropriate sexualized communications about John Weaver ever."

More chaos at Lincoln Project after another co-founder resigns and the organization releases a damaging response



The drama and chaos at the Lincoln Project, the anti-Trump Super PAC, escalated after co-founder Jennifer Horn resigned and the organization released a statement with damaging accusations.

Horn, the former chair of the New Hampshire state Republican party, said that she had resigned from the group she co-founded because of the accusations of sexual misconduct against John Weaver, another co-founder.

"Upon careful consideration, I have terminated my relationship with the Lincoln Project, effective immediately. John Weaver's grotesque and inappropriate behavior, coupled with his longstanding deceptions concerning that behavior, are sickening," Horn wrote in a statement to the New York Times.

"It is clear at this point that my views about how the Lincoln Project's efforts are managed," she added, "and the best way to move the Lincoln Project forward into the future in the wake of these awful events, have diverged."

On Friday, a statement released from the Lincoln Project fired back at Horn.

"Forty-eight hours ago, at a moment when the Lincoln Project was under attack from the Trump organization and their propaganda allies, Jennifer Horn, in written communication, requested from the Lincoln Project an immediate 'signing bonus' payment of $250,000 and $40,000 per month consulting contract," read the statement in part.

"The demands were unanimously rejected by the management committee and board," they added. "We immediately accepted Jennifer Horn's resignation from the Lincoln Project."

Critics of the anti-Trump group jumped at the implications of the statement against their own co-founder.

"Incredible. The article notes that her resignation only came after the Lincoln Project refused to pay her a $250K signing bonus and up her contract to $40K a month. Turns out she would've been fine with Weaver's predatory behavior if they would have just paid her more," tweeted Republican activist Matt Whitlock.

Here's more about the allegations against Weaver:

Lincoln Project Condemns Co-Founder After Allegations Of Sexual Harassment | NBC News NOWwww.youtube.com