NEW YORK (AP) – The Lincoln Project, one of the best-known and best-funded organizations in the so-called Never Trump movement, announced plans late Thursday to launch an outside investigation to overthrow the tenure of a co-founder accused of sexual intercourse. intimidation.
The announcement came hours after The Associated Press reported that members of the organization’s leadership were informed in writing and in subsequent telephone calls of at least 10 specific allegations of sexual harassment against co-founder John Weaver, including two involving employees of the Lincoln Project. The revelations raised questions about the Lincoln Project’s statement last month that it was “shocked” when allegations surfaced in public this year.
In a statement released Thursday evening, the organization announced that the board had decided to retain “a best-in-class outside professional” to review Weaver’s tenure “to establish both accountability and best practices for The Lincoln Project. “
The organization also encouraged anyone bound by a nondisclosure agreement to contact the Lincoln Project “for release.”
The situation threatens not only the status of the Lincoln Project but also of the wider coalition of establishment-focused Republican groups seeking to remove Trump from the party.
Lincoln Project co-founder Steve Schmidt insisted Wednesday night that he and the rest of the group’s leadership were unaware of internal allegations of wrongdoing involving Weaver.
“The Lincoln Project believes the members of our movement and the victims of John Weaver’s despicable and deceptive behavior owe the facts, and you will receive them,” the organization said in a written statement Thursday night. “John Weaver betrayed us all and you deserve the facts presented independently through a transparent process.”
Weaver declined to comment on the AP’s earlier story, but in a statement released to Axios late last month, he acknowledged common misconduct and apologized.
“For the men I made uncomfortable with my messages that I considered back then two-way conversations, I’m really sorry,” he wrote. “They were inappropriate and it was because of my shortcomings that this inconvenience was caused to you.”