Lincoln Project co-founder Steve Schmidt resigned from the battered anti-Trump organization on Friday night, claiming he did so to “make room for the appointment of a woman to the council as a first step in reforming and professionalizing Lincoln Project “
“Currently, the Lincoln Project is made up of four middle-aged white men. This composition does not 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 councilor like first step towards reforming and professionalizing the Lincoln Project, “said Schmidt in a statement.
Axios was the first to report Schmidt’s departure, which followed an exodus of senior employees since the Associated Press and New York magazine published bombastic reports indicating that The Lincoln Project’s leadership was aware of at least ten allegations of harassment sexual assault against co-founder John Weaver in June 2020. Two of these allegations involved Lincoln Project officials and were communicated to the leadership after Schmidt and other colleagues denied having any knowledge of Weaver’s behavior.
MAIN ADVISORS DITCH ANTI-TRUMP LINCOLN PROJECT HOW IMPLOSION GETS STEAM OVER SEXUAL HARASSMENT SCANDAL
Schmidt himself issued a long statement that started with him reminiscing about his days as a 13-year-old boy and how he was allegedly molested by a doctor at the Rock Hill Boy Scout camp, which he said left him traumatized and later revealed that he had fought with depression.
He then established ties with Weaver, who he met in 2006, but stressed that his professional relationship only began in 2019, when the Lincoln Project was founded.
Schmidt doubled his claim that he did not learn of Weaver’s misconduct until last month and insisted that an independent investigation “will validate that”.
LINCOLN PROJECT IS BEING REQUEST TO RELEASE FORMER EMPLOYEES FROM NON-DISCLOSURE CONTRACTS
“My purpose in writing this is not to express what and when I knew about John Weaver, but how I feel about him, what he did and how many people he hurt,” wrote Schmidt. “This is my truth. John Weaver put me back in that distant hut with Ray, my scout leader. I am very angry about this. I am angry because I know the damage he has done to me and I know the journey that lies ahead of each young man who trusted, feared and was abused by John Weaver. “
Although Schmidt said he was “enormously proud of the Lincoln Project”, he apologized to co-founder Jennifer Horn, who resigned from the group last week because of the public dispute that was launched. He called her “an important and valuable member of our team”.
“She deserved better than me. She deserved a leader who could contain her anger. I’m sorry for my failure,” said Schmidt to his former colleague.
LINCOLN PROJECT FACES FEROZ RETROCESS, ACCUSED OF PUBLISHING PRIVATE MESSAGES FROM EX-MEMBER
He also addressed the controversial tweets that showed a private Twitter exchange between Horn and a reporter, claiming that it came from “an anonymous source”, but said that private messages “should never have been made public” and that he “accepts responsibility “.
“For me, it’s time to take a step back – to stay healthy mentally, physically and spiritually,” continued Schmidt. “Stay strong, there is a lot of work to be done.”
Lincoln Project did not immediately respond to Fox News’s request for comment.
Lincoln Project consultants Tom Nichols and Kurt Bardella, as well as LPTV presenter Nayyera Haq, announced on Twitter on Friday that they had departed from the organization. LPTV consultant and fellow presenter Tara Setmayer also indicated her possible departure on Twitter.
In addition, CNBC reported on Friday that major donors are considering leaving the group.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
Last week, co-founder Jennifer Horn announced her resignation, which sparked a public feud between her and the group.
Last Thursday, the Lincoln Project reportedly posted private messages on Twitter that Horn sent to a reporter. These tweets were later removed after cofounder George Conway, who left the group in August, warns that his actions may have violated federal law.