This is sad but certainly in no way unexpected. Here’s the official statement the Lincoln Project released today.
“John Weaver led a secret life that was built on a foundation of deception at every level. He is a predator, a liar, and an abuser. We extend our deepest sympathies to those who were targeted by his deplorable and predatory behavior. We are disgusted and outraged that someone in a position of power and trust would use it for these means.
The totality of his deceptions are beyond anything any of us could have imagined and we are absolutely shocked and sickened by it. Like so many, we have been betrayed and deceived by John Weaver. We are grateful beyond words that at no time was John Weaver in the physical presence of any member of The Lincoln Project.”
Weaver’s behavior is toxic and the scandal has been building for some time. Weaver worked on the campaigns of John Kasich and John McCain and along with Steve Schmidt, George Conway and Rick Wilson put together the Lincoln Project. And then all hell broke loose and still is breaking loose. Washington Post:
The New York Times published a report Sunday morning based on interviews with 21 men who alleged that Weaver sent them unwanted provocative messages or solicited them for sex, often in exchange for the promise of professional help.
The New York Times story followed reports about Weaver’s behavior from earlier this month, including one by the American Conservative’s Ryan Girdusky on Jan. 11 and by Axios on Jan. 15.
Weaver did not respond to a request for comment Sunday. Two weeks ago, he acknowledged the “inappropriate” messages in a statement to Axios and apologized, saying he had been closeted.
“The truth is that I’m gay. And that I have a wife and two kids who I love. My inability to reconcile those two truths has led to this agonizing place,” Weaver said in his statement then. “To the men I made uncomfortable through my messages that I viewed as consensual mutual conversations at the time: I am truly sorry. They were inappropriate and it was because of my failings that this discomfort was brought on you.”
Unfortunately, this is all too common. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office was rocked in the past six months by exactly the same kind of scandal. We hope Weaver and others like him can get the help they need.
Ironically, of course, Trump supporters will use this as new ammunition against the Project (while completely ignoring ALL of Trump’s vile behavior over the last 40+ years, not the least of which was his tendency to roam around the backstage of the beauty pageants his organization supported where he was able to watch contestants–some of whom were underage–in various states of undress).
This is what comes of being closeted. It’s better to be open about who you are. I’m wondering once again what Trump is holding over Lindsey Graham.
It is wrong to keep making insinuations about Graham. Let’s just stick to the political facts.
I absolutely agree Joseph, the ignorance and, “MOB MENTALITY”, of Trump supporters is astounding and at once almost frightening …
Their reasoning, apparently, is based on Trump’s continued lies and locker room clapping and posturing at the podium of doom he maintained …
With them, the hate mongering and Rudy/Trump speeches of incitement on that horrible day were just enough to cross over their limited intelligence … the first thing we saw was that some perps arrived with weapons and their own methods of building the tempo up to full on attacks … the sight of them destroying things that were made by hand and eye of craftsmen’s pride from years ago was sickening …
The Lincoln Project has been one of the nastiest thorns in their feet as they stumble through these last hurrah days of the Republican party …. they are grasping at straws made of wet clay, so anything like this incident will probably trigger more awesome stupidity in public displays, and Fox news will be there as well.