Lincoln Project co-founder Steve Schmidt resigned from the controversial anti-Trump organization on Friday night, claiming he did this to “make room for the appointment of a female board member as a first step to reform and professionalize the Lincoln Project” .
“Currently, the Lincoln Project is made up of four middle-aged white men. That composition does not reflect our nation, nor our movement. I am resigning from the Lincoln Project board to make way for a female board member as the first step. to reform and professionalize the Lincoln project, ”Schmidt said in a statement.
Axios was the first to report on Schmidt’s departure, which follows an exodus of senior staff since Associated Press magazine and New York magazine published bombshell reports indicating that the leadership at The Lincoln Project was aware of at least ten sexual harassment allegations against co-founder John Weaver June 2020. Two of those allegations related to employees of the Lincoln Project and were communicated to the leadership after Schmidt and other colleagues denied having any knowledge of Weaver’s conduct.
TOP ADVISERS DITCH ANTI-TRUMP LINCOLN PROJECT AS IMPLOSION STEAM GETS OVER SEXUAL HARASSMENT SCANDAL
Schmidt himself issued a lengthy statement that began by remembering his days as a 13-year-old and how he was allegedly abused by a camp doctor at the Rock Hill Boy Scout Camp, who he said left him traumatized and later revealed that he had struggled. with depression.
He then got in touch with Weaver, whom he had met in 2006, but stressed that his professional relationship didn’t start until 2019 when the Lincoln Project was founded.
Schmidt doubled down on his claim that he only found out about Weaver’s misconduct last month, insisting that an independent investigation “will confirm this.”
THE LINCOLN PROJECT IS REQUESTED TO RELEASE FORMER EMPLOYEES FROM NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS
“My goal 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,” Schmidt wrote. “This is my truth. John Weaver has put me back in that faraway cabin with Ray, my Boy Scout leader. I’m very angry about it. I’m angry because I know the damage he did to me, and I know the journey. to any young man who trusted, feared and was abused by John Weaver. “
While Schmidt said he was “immensely proud of the Lincoln Project,” he apologized to co-founder Jennifer Horn, who resigned from the group last week over the public dispute that was launched. He called her “an important and valuable member of our team.”
“She deserved better from me. She deserved a leader who could contain his anger. I’m sorry for my failure,” Schmidt told his former colleague.
LINCOLN PROJECT GIVES HARD STRUCTURE, SUSPECTED OF PUBLISHING EX-MEMBER PRIVATE MESSAGES
He also spoke of the controversial tweets showing a private Twitter exchange between Horn and a reporter, claiming it was from “an anonymous source” but saying the private messages “should never have been made public” and that he “accepts responsibility”.
“It’s time for me to step down from the front – to get mentally, physically and spiritually healthy,” continued Schmidt. “Stay strong, there is a lot of work to be done.”
The Lincoln Project did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.
Lincoln Project advisers Tom Nichols and Kurt Bardella, as well as LPTV presenter Nayyera Haq announced on Twitter on Friday that they had left the organization. Fellow consultant and LPTV host Tara Setmayer also indicated her possible exit on Twitter.
In addition, CNBC reported on Friday that top mega donors are considering leaving the group.
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Last week, co-founder Jennifer Horn announced her resignation, sparking a public feud between her and the group.
Late Thursday, the Lincoln Project reportedly published private Twitter messages that Horn sent to a reporter. Those tweets were later removed after co-founder George Conway, who left the group in August, warned that his actions may have violated federal law.