Steve Schmidt, co-founder of the anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project, announced Friday that he was resigning from the group’s board of directors.
Schmidt said in a statement posted on Twitter who would leave office “to make way for the appointment of a female board member as a first step in reforming and professionalizing the Lincoln Project.”
The resignation comes as the anti-Trump GOP group faces growing scrutiny over its operation and handling of allegations against former co-founder John Weaver.
Weaver has been accused over the past month of sending unsolicited sexual messages to numerous young men, including sending messages to a 14-year-old boy.
“I wish John Weaver wasn’t a co-founder of the Lincoln Project, but as much as I wish it was, I can’t change that,” Schmidt said. “I’m extremely proud of the Lincoln Project and what we’ve achieved so far.”
The group also studied Thursday night after its Twitter account posted screenshots of private messages between former member Jennifer Horn and Amanda Becker, a reporter for The 19th News. Screenshots were later deleted.
“This direct message should never have been made public. My job as the main leader is to take responsibility for the terrible misjudgment to release him,” Schmidt said in his statement Friday.
“I apologize on behalf of the organization and Amanda Becker,” he added.
Last month, Weaver admitted to sending “inappropriate” sexual messages to young men and apologized. The Lincoln Project and other founding members have tried to distance themselves from it.
The group announced Thursday that it has hired an outside group to review Weaver’s term and said it would not comment on the allegations until the investigation is complete.
The announcement came when The New York Times reported that six former staff members sent an open letter to the group demanding the release of non-disclosure agreements so they could provide information “that would help the press, the public and our people.” donors to answer questions relevant to the public interest ”.
In addition, The Associated Press reported that more than $ 50 million of the $ 90 million the group has raised has gone to companies controlled by its leaders. The news service, citing an analysis by ad tracking firm Kantar / CMAG, reported that approximately $ 27 million was paid for ads that were aired during the 2020 presidential election
Schmidt, a longtime Republican Party strategist, worked on the late senator’s presidential campaign. John McCain
John Sidney McCain Lincoln Project announces review of co-founder’s term following allegations of harassment. The Pentagon sends two groups of carriers to the South China Sea amid tensions with Beijing’s “Purple America” will establish political direction in 2022 MORE (R-Ariz.) In 2008 and in the campaign of former President George W. Bush in 2004. He has been a fierce critic against the former President Trump
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Schmidt announced in December that he was registering as a Democrat after spending about two years as an independent.