The Lincoln Project is seeking to distance itself from one of its co-founders after a report from The New York Times detailing allegations of online harassment.
Republican strategist and co-founder of The Lincoln Project John Weaver is facing allegations of sending unsolicited suggestive messages to young men.
In a statement on Sunday, the group wrote, “John Weaver led a secret life that was built on a foundation of deception at every level. He is a predator, a liar, and an abuser. We extend our deepest sympathies to those who were targeted by his deplorable and predatory behavior.”
“We are disgusted and outraged that someone in a position of power and trust would use it for these means. The totality of his deceptions are beyond anything any of us could have imagined, and we are absolutely shocked and sickened by it.”
“Like so many, we have been betrayed and deceived by John Weaver. We are grateful beyond words that at no time was John Weaver in the physical presence of any member of The Lincoln Project,” the statement added.
Read the statement below:
The Times interviewed 21 men who said they received unsolicited sexual messages from Weaver, who worked on several Republican presidential campaigns, over the years.
In one message reviewed by the paper, Weaver told a young man he would “spoil you when we see each other.”
“Help you other times. Give advice, counsel, help with bills. You help me … sensually,” he added.
Steve Schmidt, a co-founder of The Lincoln Project, told the Times that the group first became aware of the allegations earlier this month when they appeared in an article in The American Conservative and on Twitter.
Schmidt also said the group’s leaders began to believe over the summer that Weaver may have had relationships with men. However, he said, “There was no awareness or insinuations of any type of inappropriate behavior when we became aware of the chatter at the time.”
Weaver has a wife and two children.
In a statement addressing the allegations, 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,” he added.
In a statement earlier this month, Weaver acknowledged that he sent “inappropriate” messages and apologized “to the men I made uncomfortable.”
He also said, “The truth is that I’m gay. And that I have a wife and two kids who I love. My inability to reconcile those two truths has led to this agonizing place.”
The Lincoln Project was founded by several Republican consultants and created ads that attacked and mocked former President Donald Trump while he was in office.
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) January 19, 2021
The group has also in recent days targeted Republicans who supported Trump.
