Mr. Weaver, 61, is a longtime Republican presidential marketing campaign adviser who gained prominence throughout John McCain’s run in 2008 and in
Mr. Weaver, 61, is a longtime Republican presidential marketing campaign adviser who gained prominence throughout John McCain’s run in 2008 and in addition labored for John Kasich in 2016. The Instances reported final month, based mostly on interviews with 21 younger males, that Mr. Weaver had for years despatched unsolicited and sexually provocative messages on-line. The youngest individual The Instances interviewed was 14 when Mr. Weaver first contacted him; the messages grew to become overtly sexual after he turned 18.
On Thursday, The Related Press and New York journal, citing unidentified former staff, reported that Lincoln Venture leaders knew about Mr. Weaver’s habits final summer season, which Mr. Schmidt has continued to disclaim. Mr. Weaver took a medical depart from the group in August and introduced final month that he wouldn’t return.
In its assertion on Thursday evening, the Lincoln Venture mentioned that Mr. Weaver had “betrayed all of us” and known as accounts of his harassment of younger males “heartbreaking.” It mentioned that Mr. Weaver’s conduct “should be reckoned with,” and mentioned it was bringing in “a best-in-class exterior skilled” to “set up each accountability and greatest practices going ahead for The Lincoln Venture.”
The previous staff, of their letter, expressed anger that Lincoln Venture leaders had characterised stories in regards to the group’s dealing with of Mr. Weaver’s habits as hit jobs from supporters of former President Donald J. Trump.
Insinuating that their efforts constituted a right-wing assault, they wrote, “is just not consistent with the values we signed as much as uphold, and resembles the techniques and habits we joined the Lincoln Venture to defeat.”
Over the past 12 months, the Lincoln Venture established itself because the main Republican group against Mr. Trump, skewering him with mocking advertisements and drawing a big following on the left. However for the reason that election, the group has been splintering. Two former board members, Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid, left in December. George T. Conway III, one other key determine within the group, has additionally departed.
Ms. Horn mentioned in her assertion, “When The New York Instances report on Weaver got here out not too long ago, I began getting telephone calls from some victims who shared very disturbing tales about their interactions with him — interactions that apparently began practically a 12 months in the past and, based on these younger males, have been communicated to others within the Lincoln Venture.”