Former employees, in their letter, expressed anger that Lincoln Project leaders characterized the reports on how the group handled Weaver’s behavior as successful work by supporters of former President Donald J. Trump.
Insinuating that their efforts constituted a right-wing attack, they wrote: “It is not in accordance with the values that we commit to uphold and is similar to the tactics and behavior that we joined with the Lincoln Project to defeat”.
Last year, the Lincoln Project established itself as the top Republican group opposed to Trump, spearing him with mocking ads and attracting many followers on the left. But since the election, the group has been fragmenting. Two former board members, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid, left in December. George T. Conway III, another important figure in the organization, also left.
Mrs. Horn said in her testimony: “When the New York Times report on Weaver came out recently, I started receiving calls from some victims who shared very disturbing stories about their interactions with him – interactions that apparently started almost a year ago, according to these young people, they were communicated to others at the Lincoln Project. “
She added: “I was not aware of these communications or the allegations contained in them”.
She said the boys “said they felt ignored” and “hurt that their experiences were being denied, angry that they were used and deceived and fearful of being targeted again. It was heartbreaking to hear. “
The Lincoln Project attributed Ms. Horn’s departure to a cash dispute, saying that she had recently requested “an immediate $ 250,000 ‘signing bonus’ payment and a $ 40,000 monthly consulting contract” and that in December she had “demanded a seat on the Lincoln Project board, a television program, a podcast hosting assignment and a team to manage these ventures.”
Ms. Horn called the allegations that her departure was financially motivated “patently false”.