The anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project issued a blunt statement on Sunday, distancing itself from co-founder John Weaver’s “deplorable and predatory behavior” after a New York Times report detailed a story of alleged predatory behavior.
The Lincoln Project disallowed its co-founder after a Times report featured interviews with 21 men who accused Weaver of sending “unsolicited and sexually provocative messages online to young people, often suggesting that he could help them get work in politics”, including an alleged victim who was just 14 years old.
The Lincoln Project issued a blunt statement on Sunday, distancing itself from co-founder John Weaver’s “deplorable and predatory behavior” after a bomb in the New York Times.
JOHN WEAVER, CO-FOUNDER OF THE LINCOLN PROJECT, ADD SENDING ‘IMPROPER’ MESSAGES TO MEN: REPORT
“John Weaver led a secret life that was built on a basis of deception at all levels. He is a predator, a liar and an abuser,” wrote the Lincoln Project. “We extend our deepest condolences to those who have been the target of his deplorable and predatory behavior. We are angry and indignant that someone in a position of power and trust would use him for these means.”
The Lincoln Project was formed by veteran Republican agents who openly despised President Trump and have since been embraced by the left. Critics and media watchdogs immediately began to question who knew about Weaver’s behavior and how long they had known it, but the group said their actions were worse than anything they could have imagined.
“The totality of his mistakes is beyond anything that any of us could have imagined and we are absolutely shocked and disgusted by this,” the statement said. “Like so many others, we were betrayed and deceived by John Weaver. We thank you in addition to the words that John Weaver was never in the physical presence of any member of the Lincoln Project.”
Weaver, a veteran Republican operative and former aide to prominent Republicans like former Ohio Governor John Kasich and the late Senator John McCain, reportedly asked a 14-year-old boy about “his body while he was still in high school” and sent “more punctual” questions as soon as he turns 18.
“These messages from Mr. Weaver … did not lead to physical encounters, except in a consensual case, and none of the men accused Mr. Weaver of illegal conduct. Instead, many of them described feeling persecuted by an older man. influential in the field in which they wanted to work, and believing that they had to get involved with their repeated messages or miss a professional opportunity, “reported the Times.
THE LINCOLN PROJECT CANCELED AS ‘GRIFTERS’ AFTER THE REPORT OF THE FOUNDERS LOOKING TO LAUNCH THE MEDIA EMPIRE
“Weaver sent open sexual requests to at least 10 of the men and, in the most explicit messages, offered professional and personal assistance in exchange for sex,” continued the Times, citing messages reviewed by the newspaper.
“Interviews with the 21 young people, as well as an image review of dozens of messages he has sent over the past five years, show that his online behavior was in many cases aggressive and unwanted,” reported the Times.
George Conway, who co-founded The Lincoln Project alongside Weaver, addressed the situation on Monday during an appearance on MSNBC.
“It’s terrible and horrible and terrible and unfathomable, I, I didn’t know John very well. Frankly, I only spoke to him a few times on the phone at the beginning of the Lincoln Project. It’s almost, I don’t even know what to say. It’s just terrible,” he said. Conway. “It leaves me speechless, frankly.”
THE LINCOLN PROJECT CALLED TO REPEAT THE TWEETS OF OTHER PEOPLE AGAIN
Last month, author Ryan James Girdusky sent an enigmatic tweet stating that one of the founding members of The Lincoln Project was “offering boys jobs in exchange for sex”. Girdusky’s statement was quickly met with reactions from other people on Twitter who made similar unproven statements, with many speculating that the initial tweet referred to Weaver.
Shortly thereafter, Weaver admitted “inappropriate” behavior in a statement published by Axios.
“For the men who bothered me with my messages, who at the time considered consensual mutual conversations: I’m really sorry,” said Weaver in a statement published by the vehicle. “They were inadequate and it was because of my failures that this discomfort was caused to you.
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“The truth is, I’m gay,” added Weaver. “And that I have a wife and two children that I love. My inability to reconcile these two truths took me to this agonizing place.”
In a statement to the Times, Weaver reiterated his comments to Axios: “I am so discouraged and sad that I could have caused discomfort to anyone in what I thought at the time were mutually consensual discussions. By living a deeply closed life, I allowed my pain to cause pain. for others. That’s why I’m really sorry for these men and for everyone and for disappointing so many people. “
Joseph A. Wulfsohn of Fox News contributed to this report