The Lincoln Project is facing fierce backlash and potentially major legal trouble after it was accused of publishing screenshots of private Twitter direct messages from one of its co-founders, Jennifer Horn.
Horn, who left the Lincoln Project last week amid the John Weaver scandal, has had a public feud with the anti-Trump group since her departure. But the Lincoln Project escalated tensions on Thursday night with tweets that appeared to be an exchange she had with 19th News correspondent Amanda Becker.
“Earlier tonight we became aware that @ 19thnews’ @AmandaBecker was preparing to publish a defamatory work on the Lincoln Project with the help of @NHJennifer,” the Lincoln Project began a long thread. “You hear a lot of talk about hit jobs in journalism, but you rarely get to see their origin story. Enjoy it.”
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The tweets were immediately condemned, including by one of the co-founders, conservative lawyer George Conway.
“This appears to be a violation of federal law and should be removed immediately,” Conway warned.
Conway left the group in August 2020.
Horn herself later responded to the controversy, warning Twitter that the Lincoln Project was denied permission to publish its private messages.
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“Hey @Twitter @jack @TwitterSupport I have not consented,” Horn wrote.
It is unclear how the Lincoln Project obtained screenshots of Horn’s private messages or, if so, how the group got access to Horn’s Twitter account.
The Lincoln Project’s actions sparked wild reactions on social media.
“This is justifiably scandalous,” tweeted Noah Blum, editor of Tablet Magazine.
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“It’s hardly the most important thing that’s happening today, amid deposition, tens of millions of doses of covid vaccine becoming available, changes in Medicaid work requirements. But I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like what just happened with regarding Horn’s account, wrote Maggie Haberman, reporter for the New York Times.
Author Ryan James Girdusky, who was one of the first journalists to expose Weaver’s allegations, stated, “The Lincoln project is on the verge of collapse.”
19th News founder and CEO Emily Ramshaw defended her reporter who was swept up in the controversy, tweeting, “Just minutes ago, @ProjectLincoln posted a series of screenshots of private Twitter DMs featuring coverage from one of our journalists – not long after she sent @ProjectLincoln a series of questions to respond to for a story …” We’re not will be bullied or intimidated for pursuing critical journalism. “
The Lincoln Project did not respond to Fox News’s multiple questions, including why it chose to delete the Twitter thread and its responses to Horn and Conway’s responses.
Twitter did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment on whether or not the Lincoln Project had violated its policies.
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Both Conway and Horn called for independent counsel to investigate Weaver’s behavior during his tenure with the Lincoln Project after a few bomb reports from The Associated Press and New York magazine claimed the group leaders had been notified of at least ten Sexual harassment charges against Weaver in June 2020, including by two Lincoln Project employees.