21 Men Accuse Lincoln Project Co-Founder of Online Harassment

[Zorro]

Source: New York Times

John Weaver, a longtime G.O.P. operative who advised John McCain and John Kasich, made sexual overtures to young men, sometimes offering to help them get work in politics.

John Weaver, a longtime Republican strategist and co-founder of the prominent anti-Trump group the Lincoln Project, has for years sent unsolicited and sexually provocative messages online to young men, often while suggesting he could help them get work in politics, according to interviews with 21 men who received them.

His solicitations included sending messages to a 14-year-old, asking questions about his body while he was still in high school and then more pointed ones after he turned 18.

These messages from Mr. Weaver, 61, who helped run John McCain’s presidential campaigns in 2000 and 2008 and John Kasich’s in 2016, did not lead to physical encounters except in one consensual case, and none of the men accused Mr. Weaver of unlawful conduct. Rather, many of them described feeling preyed upon by an influential older man in the field in which they wanted to work, and believing they had to engage with his repeated messaging or lose a professional opportunity.

Mr. Weaver sent overt sexual solicitations to at least 10 of the men and, in the most explicit messages, offered professional and personal assistance in exchange for sex. He told one man he would “spoil you when we see each other,” according to a message reviewed by The New York Times. “Help you other times. Give advice, counsel, help with bills. You help me … sensually.”

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/31/us/politics/john-weaver-lincoln-project-harassment.html

[Thekaspervote]

1. I really hope this isn't true. TLP does a lot of good

[Miguelito Loveless]

8. They may be doing good now

But I keep telling people that we forget who these people are at our peril. It’s great they hate Trump, but these same people paved the way for him with their attacks on political norms over the last 2-3 decades.

[Jopin Klobe]

13. Check ...

... and double check ...

[herding cats]

16. He doesn't deny it.

From the article:

Mr. Weaver, in response to questions about specific allegations, reiterated his statement from earlier this month and said: “I am so disheartened and sad that I may have brought discomfort to anyone in what I thought at the time were mutually consensual discussions. In living a deeply closeted life, I allowed my pain to cause pain for others. For that I am truly sorry to these men and everyone and for letting so many people down.”

He took a hiatus from TLP last summer and won't be returning per the article.

[ramblin_dave]

2. Lincoln Project statement

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Big Blue Marble]

14. You posted the tweet of author who is endorsed by Ann Coullter

at the top of his Twitter page? Do you check your links?

What John Weaver had done is inexcusable and he should be outed.
But what is going on is an attempt by the right to take the credibility and
fund raising ability of the Lincoln Project down with him.

It shows how powerful and effective they are in stopping the theft of democracy.
Pay attention to our enemies and to our allies in the fight of our lives.

[ramblin_dave]

19. Okay I edited to get rid of it.

Maybe I rely too much on posts by those with blue checks. I mainly wanted to indicate that there could be counter claims.

[Big Blue Marble]

21. Thank you.

In this bitter atmosphere, we must expect the right whose only two weapons are vitriol and
victimhood will come after the LP hard.

[MontanaMama]

3. Weaver is a sexual predator.

The LP has denounced him and his behavior resoundingly.

[mr_lebowski]

4. Jesus, man ... you've got money ...

And there's plenty of 'working men' out there in the world.

I don't understand people who do this. Just pay for sex, like the rest of us.

I mean, it's been going on since the dawn of time ... people with wealth and power seem to often have a penchant, but ...

14 year olds, dude?

[Warpy]

17. The guy is a creeper and an asshole

who has undoubtedly been making teenagers uncomfortable and nauseated for many years. I remember what it felt like when old dudes were coming after me when I was 13 or so and had no idea what they were after except I wanted no part of it, go away.

It's good this is coming out, it desperately needs to. Like you pointed out, there are plenty of hungry pros out there who need the work. There is also treatment he can afford for sex addiction, which is what it looks like might be going on. I just hope the embarrassment of having his nose rubbed in this stuff wakes him the hell up.

No, this behavior is not OK. The sex of the teenager is irrelevant. Just back off, you assholes. You know who you are.

[FSogol]

27. It isn't about sex, it is about power. n/t

[Mike Nelson]

5. I would pass on this...

... but the part about High School and "more pointed questions after he turned 18" jolted me. The guy knew... I don't like the job-related advances, either... very bad. He needs to get out of politics and get help. If he's committed any crimes, he should fess up and pay the piper...

[boilinmad]

6. At the end of the day..

..just another typical criminal, hypocritical republican.

[kaotikross]

7. Although they're useful

They're still republicans. Most of them have trouble coming to grips with their sexuality much less coming out. I'm not surprised he hid it and preyed on the vulnerables he thought he could keep quiet, to come out as a gay republican is basically to ask for tar and feathers. That doesn't make it right, but it does add insight as to why he did it. He could also just not give a crap, not the first repub we've seen into pedophilia and I'm sure it won't be the last.

[Mawspam2]

9. A sexualy repressed Republican who found a new grift.

Whocouldanode?

[diverdownjt]

42. And our side is supposed to have...

the pedo-ring in the basement, maybe this is where it originated???

[Dawson Leery]

10. They are still conservatives.

Many Cons have trouble with sexual matters. This is the legacy of taking a puritanical view of sex.

[usaf-vet]

11. If my memory serves me right the republican supported a president who bragged about grabbing......

..... women by their ***** and shooting someone on 5th Avenue and instigating an attack on the US Capitol where 5 people were killed including a police officer and to date has failed to deal with congress members carrying loaded weapons into the capitol Chambers.

All of these further highlight the hypocrisy of the republican party's lack of holding their party members to the standards they expect of others.

The Lincoln Project has released a statement condemning the accused individual.

Link to tweet

[Throckmorton]

12. True That

Sometimes the worst hypocrites are converted True Believers.

[Jopin Klobe]

15. "There's no one so pious ...

... as a reformed whore”

[niyad]

38. Thank you. Saved me the trouble.

[iemitsu]

18. While TLP has done nice work we must remember they are republicans.

This behavior is exactly what one would expect from a republican.

[LiberalLovinLug]

34. I thought liberals were supposed to be the creative ones

Why is it we cannot have our own project. The FDR Project. Sometimes I think we are so hamstrung by the ever increasing PC rulebook. We just want to be nice to everyone. Thinking....surely there must be some "good" Republicans. We don't want to offend THEM after all. Or make Fox News too too upset.

[iemitsu]

35. Your FDR Project idea is wonderful.

All it needs now is money.
Unfortunately most the money in America belongs to republicans.

[LiberalLovinLug]

36. I think many Democrats donated to TLP

Money that could have been used by "The FDR Project"

They donated because it was the seemingly only group that was actually putting out effective hard hitting ads that didn't worry about offending sensibilities, on both sides. I really believe that small donors could support a media group made up of progressive ad people.

Not only small donors who were Democrats gave to TLP, but also

https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/07/billionaire-democrat-donors-lincoln-project/

Billionaire Democratic donors give big to anti-Trump Lincoln Project

[iemitsu]

37. You seem to be right. Democrats should form their own

program to educate the public.
I still like your FDR Project.
We need a #FundtheFDRProject campaign aimed at George Soros (really meaning wealthy democratic donors).

[LiberalLovinLug]

39. Yup.

[MichMan]

40. Wonder how many Japanese Americans would support something called the "FDR Project" ?

[iemitsu]

41. Call it something else then.

My Japanese American wife is not insulted by the idea.

[ReadItnWeep]

44. Hi, I'm new here

Hi. I've been a silent watcher of this site for nearly 3 years and I have learned a lot and found a wealth of information here, so thank you all for that.
However, the responses to this news about TLP forced me to finally create an account.
This statement here and many that are in a similar tone. "That's what you can expect from Republicans."? Or something like *I told you they couldn't be trusted* ...those statements , to me, sound extremely biased and rather ignorant. Yes, Trump and all of his best pals seem to be all part of the absolutely disgusting club of pedophile scum that we can all agree to hate. But I doubt that any social group can claim no members. The Lincoln Project came from the other side to join us in trying to get Trump gone. They agreed that Donald was too far , yes, even for them. But after all these years and now their continued efforts to rid Congress of the people who have also crossed the line into what cannot be acceptable, I think they've earned my trust and also a big Thanks!
With the news of one of their co-founders being a dishonest and despicable man, they further earn my trust and I am kind of shocked that it isn't clear as a bell to everyone here. The *same day* that this story broke , was the *same day* their response condemning him in *no uncertain language* came out. In other words, they are practicing what we all are preaching. The behavior was abhorrent and unexcusable. And he is no longer a part of their organization. Great Job , Lincoln Project!!!!
Too bad Gym J. & Dersh & Don & Guifowl &
are not quickly dispatched with. Also it sucks that we can't feel safe if there are no Republicans around, because these stories are everywhere all the time. The police officer who was soliciting pictures from underage girls, that Fu+#$#€ g monster who was the Olympic team doctor for the Girls Gymnastics -who got away with it for YEARS! while all the people who could have stopped it did nothing. And don't get me started on the priests and the boy scouts!!? Years and decades and countless of innocent kids forever damaged because nobody wanted to - ? ..be accountable?..do the right thing..? ..make waves?
Lincoln Project did immediately what every moral entity should: they acknowledged it and got rid of it. And noone had to shame them into doing it first.

[Rhiannon12866]

45. I think that you'll find that the majority here agrees with you

Welcome to DU!

[orleans]

20. i don't get this part of lp's statement:

"we are grateful beyond words that at no time was john weaver in the physical presence of any member of the lincoln project"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/31/lincoln-project-cofounder-john-weaver-allegations/


what? why? (does "the gay" rub off? --i really don't get this weird part of their statement)

[SunSeeker]

22. They are asserting that nobody they might be liable to was sexually assaulted by this perv. nt

[pnwmom]

23. I think they just mean that none of them knew him in real life.

He was just an online connection.

[sfdennis1]

43. Very clumsily worded

Agreed with the OP...clearly Mr. Weaver was troubled by the double life he was living, and Goddess knows, being in the closet helps NOBODY'S rational decision making process. In short, he messed up big time (repeatedly) and will likely pay a heavy price for his trangressions ...but the LP's post makes it seem like you can catch "gay pervy cooties" from being in the same room. Oddly worded, and vaguely homophobic sounding to my ears.

Also agreed with other posters as to why he just didn't get a "Pro/rental" adult male friend...it works for Lyndseybelle Graham (allegedly...FREQUENTLY) First rule the Pro's know is that discretion is EVERYTHING!

[Gothmog]

24. The Lincoln Project today released the following statement.

Link to tweet

[Corgigal]

25. While I am happy they got rid

of this perv, still feels like a Roger Stone part time job. Oh well, LP choose better.

[JohnnyRingo]

26. He co-founded it. Now it's self sufficient.

This may be embarrassing, but the Lincoln Project will continue if they want.
It doesn't invalidate anything they've declared to date.

[SWBTATTReg]

28. Sounds like a hack attack from trump lovers, on TLP...

[Miigwech]

29. So, welcome men to the "Me too" movement

getting hit on while at work by your male boss is a thing tolerated in repub circles since the dawn of man ... until it can be used as a political football ... oh grab your pearls ... man on man no less, WHAT could be worse? SNARK

The repub squishy squashy freekie sex swamp runs deep ... just ask rodger dodger stone, top trump advisor.... and the beat goes on ...

[roamer65]

30. Good message from TLP.

They aren’t trying to belittle it or cover it up like Dumpists do with their Mango Mussolini.

[Yoyoyo77]

31. Roger the dodger? Any relation to roger the swinger stone?

[iluvtennis]

32. Come on dude...if you like men that's your business, but keep minors out of it.

[oldsoftie]

46. Apparently there'd been rumors about him for some time.

How much did the other LP heads do to look into this?