Scoop: Lincoln Project co-founder resigns. DAMN

[elleng]

Lincoln Project co-founder Steve Schmidt is resigning from the group's board amid a series of scandals that has rocked the high-dollar anti-Trump super PAC, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Schmidt, a veteran Republican operative, is the latest and most high-profile departure from the group, which is reeling from revelations that another co-founder, John Weaver, used offers of professional advancement in a series of attempts to solicit sex from young men.

Background: Schmidt's resignation comes amid a wave of damaging stories for the Lincoln Project.

The New York Times reported last month on allegations from 21 men that Weaver sent them unsolicited and sexually charged messages. One was 14 years old at the time, according to the report.

Multiple people have reportedly been contacted by federal law enforcement regarding the alleged conduct. The Lincoln Project said it has hired an external law firm to conduct an investigation into the matter.

The AP reported that the majority of the $90 million that the Lincoln Project has raised was paid to consulting firms tied to the group's founders and senior staff.

On Thursday, the group's official Twitter account tweeted screenshots of messages between a former senior staffer and a reporter writing a story on the group. Lincoln Project co-founder George Conway suggested the disclosures may have been illegal.

https://www.axios.com/lincoln-project-co-founder-resigns-ad554687-f2d1-4b7c-ac0c-5aa555fb312f.html?fbclid=IwAR3Z8-NQl9f4eiMuws6Yn_yl2o7GqIJk0QEEllm8W9xlhVrz_0zMLRkwphA

[Sympthsical]

1. Because they all knew. And staffers are saying they "don't feel safe" with Schmidt and others

https://www.thedailybeast.com/lincoln-project-sinks-deeper-into-turmoil-over-john-weaver-sex-allegations?ref=home

Now they're all going to pretend they had no idea!

Bull.

Shit.

Now they're trying to bully journalists and others into silence (see: the Jennifer Horn DMs).

These are the Republicans some Democrats are seriously going to bat for.

They covered up. A. Sexual. Predator.

They knew.

[pamdb]

3. Ihaveno idea what's going on

But I hate to see the Lincoln project fail because of one man On the other hand (And this is going to sound terrible) I sort of feel they did their job re:trump and the election, and now
I don't see them as being quite as important. I might wrong, I quite often am, but I like George Conway and Steve Schmidt so I hope they continue to voice their opinions.

[Sympthsical]

7. Their ads had no effect

A Democratic pollster found that ages ago. No effect. At all. They were just preaching to a choir who would give them donations.

They raised $90 million. They spent $27 million on ads.

The other $63 million? Right into their pockets.

They're grifters. I've been calling that out for months here and got yelled at and blowback every single time.

So this is all very validating. When the AP, Daily Beast, and now the New Yorker are coming for someone, no one can say it's a smear job. When staffers are too afraid to talk and demanding release from their NDAs, no one can say it's a hit piece.

Sexual predators and the people who enable them cannot be a part of our party.

[rockfordfile]

27. BS of their ads had a affect on the election

The key was they started early and got a lot of eyeballs.

[helpisontheway]

29. I think they did have an effect. I think that is part of the reason

that there is a discrepancy between the presidential election and Congress. I think LP helped to make it ok for Republicans to vote for Biden and still vote for Republicans in other seats. They hated Trump but needed that extra push. I also think other things contributed (defund the police and the outside violence surrounding peaceful BLM movement made them uneasy).

[LeftInTX]

32. Republicans voted for Biden

They did not vote for Democrats down ballot. Those ads were targeted to Republican voters. They are excellent ads.
I know a bit of something, but I can't say it.

Democrats should create similar ads. Our ads are always, "touchy feely" and "meh", whereas Republicans are always dramatic. As the saying goes, "If it bleeds, it leads".

[Celerity]

9. not to mention the massive grift

$90 million that the Lincoln Project has raised was paid to consulting firms tied to the group's founders and senior staff

I salute them for attacking Trump, but beyond that, they can sod off.

Rethugs gonna Rethug at the end of the day, whether they 'quit' the party or not, and even if they attack another part. They were all fine (for the most part) with the shit before rump came along.

[Chainfire]

2. What is it with people in high positions and sexual deviance?

I spent my whole life with my pants zipped and I kept my hands to myself. Now, don't get me wrong, I am as lusty as any other man, but I kept it to myself. I made a promise when I was married, 50 years ago, and I really meant it.

As far as porn, it just never appealed to me. I considered it like going to the store with no money.

[Stuart G]

4. Perhaps, .Steve Schmidt can create a similar group , different name.. NO Weaver..

Doing the exact same work. Schmidt can be in total control..The work will continue without Weaver.

[Sympthsical]

8. Staffers "don't feel safe" talking to Schmidt

Schmidt isn't some wide-eyed babe in the woods here. He has worked with Weaver for decades.

It's preposterous to think he had no idea.

It's all going to come out now.

Good.

[FSogol]

16. Wow, so the new GOP is going to be exactly like the old GOP! Who would have thought

that the guy who promoted Sarah Palin would be capable of these shenanigans?

[spooky3]

5. Tweet within the last hour from Steve Schmidt

Link to tweet

?s=21

[Cha]

6. TY Spooky.. I wish I could

Read it!

Damn John Weaver & anyone who does this SHIT!

[spooky3]

10. Sorry, Cha. He said he never knew about Weaver's misconduct until

last month; that he suffers from depression that (and this was unclear) stemmed from his own suffering of abuse years ago. I suspect that, if true, he said this so that we could believe he really is outraged now and that he would have taken action against Weaver earlier, if he had known.

He says after the Maher show appearance tonight, he is taking time off to get himself in a better place mentally, physically and spiritually.

[Cha]

33. Thank you for that! I just got

home.

[spooky3]

12. He has now posted more tweets. Will read. Nt

[spooky3]

13. He detailed the abuse and effect on himself. He apologized to

Horn and to the reporter for letting his anger consume him and lead him to make a bad decision.

[Sympthsical]

14. That's actually interesting, the Horn apology

It sounds like he's admitting to the Horn incident. I mean, that posting is a violation of federal law. It sounds like he's admitting to it.

Yeah, he's done. Good.

As far as, "As a victim of abuse myself," that's offensive. Like when Kevin Spacey tried to use being gay as an excuse for his behavior. We were all appalled by that line of excuse. We should be appalled by this one.

Staffers submitted their concerns to TLP leadership in writing back in June.

It's all coming out now. These Republican grifters are finished. Finally.

[spooky3]

17. I'll wait for the full investigation results. Nt

[Sympthsical]

19. The AP article alone is enough to bury them n/t

[spooky3]

20. Why are you so anxious to draw a conclusion

about someone who helped Biden win?

When a media report claims one thing is true, and Schmidt claims it isn’t, the only fair thing to do is wait for a full investigation.

[Sympthsical]

23. If these were pro-Trump Republicans, we wouldn't be ignoring this so hard

The truth is right there, black and white, sourced by reputable journalists.

I knew they were grifters way back and got blowback for it.

They covered for a sexual predator, and people are saying, "Well, I dunno guys. I mean . . . they share our politics, so . . ."

People didn't know about this because they didn't want to know about this. I've been bringing up the money angle for months. Where is the money?! The AP just told us. They looked into this. I brought up the sexual harassment allegations over a month ago and got yelled at here for it. I linked to actual sources, the actual people involved. Crickets.

And we're still on, "Well, let's wait and see!" here?

They hired an outside consultant. Yes, the person they're paying to investigate themselves is going to get right on that truth, I'm sure. Just like cops.

I don't get why people are going to bat for people who covered for a sexual predator. It's in infuriating. And now he thinks liberals are gullible as hell. "Well, I was molested once, so, *sniff* I'm also a victim here." WHAT?! And his new angle, "I'm really resigning because our board isn't diverse enough."

Who. Is. Buying. This?

You should be angry. Every Democrat should. Some things rise above our politics. Grooming young men and covering it up and then lying to everyone about it should be one of them. I am incensed it apparently is not.

[spooky3]

26. Oh, please. No one has done what you are claiming. Enjoy your stay. nt

[rockfordfile]

28. you push what trolls do

By saying well if it was "republicans" blah blah.

[Cha]

35. Don't tell us what we ".. should be.."..

everyone has their own Perspective on this.

Steve Schmidt is NOT a "grifter'..

He has joined the Democratic Party.. Some people are actually capable of Evolving when faced with a Traitor Overtaking their now Former Party.

TLP has been Invaluable Help in getting Rid of the Psychotic Treasonous Sociopath.

[cry baby]

30. Steve Schmidt is a Democrat. nt

[MagickMuffin]

15. If you click the image it will take you to the twitter feed, from there you can

Click on the image once there and it will pop up larger.

[Cha]

34. TY, Magick!

[Hekate]

36. Thank you, Spooky. This man has just bared his soul to all who will read this missive...

And even though I can’t see all of it, I can see enough. Some of what he says parallels my own experience with abuse, and for all the folks here who have piled on him for being a Republican, I can only say: read it.

I was dreading what I would find, as you all know I have read his passion a certain way. At the moment I can only say: I don’t feel mistaken and I certainly don’t feel betrayed in my support.

What I do feel is a kind of heartbreak.

[spooky3]

37. I'm so sorry, Hekate. I hope you will be well. nt

[MyOwnPeace]

11. I'm not losing sleep over this.........

they did a great job (how effective it was is up for debate) and I got a great deal of pleasure out of watching pols go after other pols. I did have concerns regarding who they would go after next (yeah, I'm thinking the new administration) but hey, it was fun and if they aren't gonna' be around - more will show up later.

[LeftInTX]

24. They're going after: MTG, Cruz, Hawley, Broebert, McCarthy et al

[MagickMuffin]

18. He is stepping down from the Board to make way

for more diversity. So, he'll still be a part of the LP, he just won't be on the Board!

[cachukis]

21. Like that.

[Cha]

38. Oh Good to Know... TY!

[occupant]

22. Steady Steve, it'll be OK

Damn, just damn. I'm no political scholar but I am political, and I am sad but grateful. Lincoln Project and Steve Schmidts interviews on MSNBC are semi responsible for the tRump downfall. Those billboards, both stationary and roving on trucks were quite effective, I thought. The commercials were jaw dropping. Those messages are what the populace needed to hear. To the point and stunningly brutal is what was needed. Up in yo face reality of the SHIT tRump was and all he was worth, a pile of shit. Those messages made people think of what a mistake tRump was and always will be. We can rest for now but the thuggary and malice will still be going on and we must face it and those Lincoln Project bits helped our cause. I don't care that Steve was a ReThuglican in the past, that only makes him smarter and stronger. He knows the fight. We have no choice but to fight for our Democracy! That Steve will be gone saddens me, he gave me hope and he and his delivered. There will always be a guy who thinks power means pussy(or dick) in this case.Look at Lady Lindsey, we now know what he's in his deal for.Power luscious power, that is what must be abated.After looking and reading that whole Pro Publica story today I am actually scared for our future.Looking at the throngs of scumbag Insurrectionists willing to kill and main, for what? One they destroyed everyone and everything in the Capitol what would they have done? Sat down and smoked a doobie or something? Turned on each other? This hate is real and somehow we have only a couple years to stop it. We need strong folks like Steve.I'll miss him.I hope Bill Maher doesn't act like an asshole to him tonight, but he prolly will...

[BannonsLiver]

25. This thread is fire.

DU never disappoints.

[Progressive Jones]

31. Long ago I decided that I'll never give much of a fuck about any Republican in any meaningful way.

Not even random GOP voters. Not even GOPs in my circles.

Even the most moderate of GOP supporters are nothing but a problem for this nation,
simply by virtue of their support of that party and its' 24/7/365 con game.

[former9thward]

39. Lincoln Project's Steve Schmidt bought million-dollar Utah house as operatives got rich

Yes, this is from Fox but the facts can't be denied.

Only $27M of the $90M that The Lincoln Project has raised since 2019 went toward advertising

Steve Schmidt, a co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, bought a million-dollar Utah home as the PAC raked in huge profits.

The Lincoln Project saw significant financial success leading up to the November election, raising $90 million in total since its creation in 2019, but the organization has spent more than $50 million on consulting firms controlled by the group's leaders.

Schmidt purchased a $1.4 million "Mountain Modern" custom home in Kamas, Utah, with five bedrooms, seven baths and a "stunning" view of the Uinta Mountains, according to property records and real estate listings. He is currently trying to resell the home for more than $2.9 million.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/lincoln-project-steve-schmidt-home-utah

The Lincoln Project was a Predator project which existed to scam wealthy liberals of millions of dollars. It was useless in its goal of splitting Republicans from Trump. Trump received a greater percent of the R vote in 2020 than in 2016.