Male interns at the Lincoln Project reveal 'explicit messages sent to them by married co-founder' - as the anti-Trump organization vows to appoint an independent investigator over claims it ignored sexual harassment allegations
The Lincoln Project has pledged to appoint an outside investigator to probe claims that they knew about sexual misconduct allegations against co-founder John Weaver before he left the organization.
Weaver, 61, parted ways with the anti-Trump super-PAC last month following a report in The New York Times that he offered young men professional support in exchange for sex.
But on Thursday, the Associated Press reported that members of the organization's leadership were informed in writing and in subsequent phone calls of at least 10 specific allegations of sexual harassment against Weaver as early as last June.
That revelation raises questions about the Lincoln Project's statement last month that it was 'shocked' by the allegations about Weaver which were published in The New York Times.
It comes on the same day that New York magazine published explosive interviews with two of Weaver's alleged victims, both of whom are young college students who say the political advisor sent them graphic messages.
Alex Johnson, a senior at the University of Texas Austin, told New York magazine that Weaver sent him a message last April asking whether he was interested in interning at the Lincoln Project.
'Would like to put you in touch with some of our folks,' Weaver allegedly messaged.
He later added: 'On [your] walk, think about worshipping a big c**k and having yours worshipped and you r****d till you beg!'
The Lincoln Project has pledged to appoint an outside investigator to probe claims that they knew about sexual misconduct allegations against co-founder John Weaver (pictured) before he left the organization
Weaver also allegedly made phone calls to Johnson, who says they would 'quickly segue into what felt like an attempt at phone sex.'
'We were talking about the Lincoln Project, and maybe getting me involved... and then he asked me: "When's the last time you j**ked off?"'
Johnson says he accepted the internship at The Lincoln Project, however, due to its prestige. There, the sexual harassment continued.
'Are you top, bottom, versa?' Weaver allegedly wrote in one message shortly after Johnson started.
Johnson claimed: 'His messages never stopped. And I would play along, just to be nice. Because I knew, I mean, he's important. Like he has the strings. And we operate in the same kind of political culture of being 'Never Trumpers'.
Another young man, 19-year-old Louisiana State University student Charlie Stephens, says he was contacted by Weaver last June about interning at The Lincoln Project.
'You are a f**king stud!' Weaver allegedly wrote to Stephens.
Stephens replied that it was 'quite the compliment,' before Weavery reportedly responded: 'Take it! Hell, you may very well be ;).'
Weaver told Axios last month: 'He added: 'To the men I made uncomfortable through my messages that I viewed as consensual mutual conversations at the time: I am truly sorry'
Weaver - who has been married to his wife since 2007 - admitted last month that he was gay.
Speaking with Axios last month he stated: '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.'
He added: 'To the men I made uncomfortable through my messages that I viewed as consensual mutual conversations at the time: I am truly sorry'.
In June 2020, the same month Stephens started at The Lincoln Project as an intern, members of the organization's leadership were allegedly informed in writing and in subsequent phone calls of at least 10 specific allegations of harassment against co-founder John Weaver, including two involving Lincoln Project employees.
Despite the early warning, the group took no action against Weaver and pressed forward with its high-profile work, according to The Associated Press.
In the wake of those claims, the organization released a statement on Thursday night announcing that its board has decided to retain 'a best-in-class outside professional' to review Weaver's tenure 'to establish both accountability and best practices going forward for The Lincoln Project.'
In the statement, the organization also encouraged anyone bound by a nondisclosure agreement to contact the Lincoln Project 'for a release.'
The situation threatens the stature of not just the Lincoln Project but also the broader coalition of establishment-oriented Republican groups working to excise Trump from the party.
The organization released a statement on Thursday night announcing that its board has decided to retain 'a best-in-class outside professional' to review Weaver's tenure 'to establish both accountability and best practices going forward for The Lincoln Project'
Lincoln Project co-founder Steve Schmidt insisted Wednesday night that he and the rest of the group´s leadership were not aware of any internal allegations of wrongdoing involving Weaver.
'The Lincoln Project believes the members of our movement and the victims of John Weaver´s despicable and deceptive behavior are owed the facts, and you will have them,' the organization said in the written statement.
'John Weaver betrayed all of us and you deserve the facts presented independently through a transparent process.'
The Lincoln Project launched in November 2019 as a super PAC that allowed its leaders to raise and spend unlimited sums of money.
Since its creation, the Lincoln Project has raised $90 million.
Its founders represent a who's who of prominent Republican strategists on cable television, including Schmidt and Reed Galen, both former advisers to John McCain; conservative attorney George Conway; former New Hampshire GOP chair Jennifer Horn; Florida-based veteran political ad maker Rick Wilson; and Weaver, who has long advised former Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
The Lincoln Project launched in November 2019 as a super PAC that allowed its leaders to raise and spend unlimited sums of money. Since its creation, the Lincoln Project has raised $90 million
Co-founder George Conway denied having any knowledge of Weaver's alleged sexual harassment
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