Two former Lincoln Project interns came forward with unsaturated text messages they allegedly received from co-founder John Weaver.
Weaver allegedly preyed on Alex Johnson, a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, and Charlie Stephens, who is studying at Louisiana State University, when he recruited them as interns for his anti-Trump super-PAC.
“Do you want to connect with some of our people,” Weaver wrote to Johnson in April, the student told New York Magazine.
Fifteen minutes later, Weaver apparently added: “On [your] walk, think of worshiping a great ck and having yours worshiped and edged until you beg! “
In phone calls, Weaver also tried to start phone sex, Johnson said.
‘We talked about the Lincoln project and maybe got involved, and of course I find it wonderful. I’m like, ‘Oh, yeah, that would be great!’ Johnson said. “Then he asked me, ‘When was the last time you kicked off?’ ”
After Johnson had the internship at Lincoln Project, Weaver continued with the creepy messages: “Are you up, down, versa?” he asked.
“His messages never stopped. And I would play along, just to be fun, ”Johnson explained. “Because I knew, I mean, he’s important. As he has the strings. And we work in the same kind of political culture as ‘Never Trumpers’. ”
Weaver also allegedly started beating Stephens, then 19, in June when he sent him on Twitter to ask if he or a “peer” would be interested in an internship “to help kick Trump and against the Republicans. Senate officials. ”
When Stephens replied a week later that he had formally applied, Weaver apparently wrote back: “You are studying!”
Stephens replied that it was’ quite the compliment ‘, to which Weaver replied:’ Take it! Hell, you can be quite possible;). ”
The Associated Press reported Thursday that Lincoln Project leaders had already been notified in writing and by telephone in June of at least ten specific allegations of harassment against Weaver.
The revelation calls into question the organization’s statement last month that it was ‘shocked’ because the allegations against Weaver were made public.
The Lincoln project – best known for raising millions to fund the “Never Trump” movement – announced plans to launch an external inquiry into Weaver’s tenure late Thursday.
“The Lincoln Project believes that the members of our movement and the victims of John Weaver’s despicable and deceptive behavior owe the facts, and you will have them,” the organization said in a statement. “John Weaver has betrayed us all and you deserve the facts presented through a transparent process independently.”
Co-founder Steve Schmidt also doubles the group’s claim that he was never aware of internal allegations about Weaver.
The group also appealed to anyone with a non-disclosure agreement to contact them for a release.
Weaver, who is married with two children, stepped down last month and apologized for his actions after his alleged misconduct came to light, saying he was struggling to accept that he was gay.
“I was uncomfortable with the men through my messages, which I considered to be mutual conversations at the time: I’m really sorry,” he wrote. “They were inappropriate and it was because of my shortcomings that you caused this discomfort.”