The Lincoln Project co-founder George Conway on Tuesday added his voice to calls for the group to shut down in light of new reporting on sexual harassment accusations against another co-founder, John Weaver.
“It’s a shame, and we shouldn’t forget the hard work of so many people and the positive things the organization did, but yes, I think this is right,” Conway wrote in response to a tweet about the Lincoln Project that said, “Just shut it down already.”
On Tuesday, The 19th* reported that some of the Lincoln Project’s co-founders, including Reed Galen and Steve Schmidt, knew about the accusations against Weaver as early as last March. On Friday, Schmidt stepped down from the group, which was launched in late 2019 by former and present Republicans seeking to block President Trump’s re-election.
More than 20 young men have said Weaver sexually harassed them online, including sending unsolicited sexual messages to them when they were still in high school. In a statement last month announcing his resignation, Weaver said he was “truly sorry to these men and everyone and for letting so many people down.”
In another series of tweets, Conway — who is one of a handful of Project members to leave in recent months — called for a “thorough” investigation into the matter and for any nondisclosure agreements to be waived.
“An investigation is necessary. But it has to be thorough, and not a whitewash. And–THE LYING HAS TO STOP. It’s clear now that, as early [as] *MARCH*, the people who were in operational control of the Lincoln Project,” he tweeted, “were told of Weaver’s predations. Enough is enough. LP needs to waive the NDAs and come clean.”
It's a shame, and we shouldn't forget the hard work of so many people and the positive things the organization did, but yes, I think this is right. https://t.co/To9dKcrigm
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) February 16, 2021
… were told of Weaver's predations. Enough is enough. LP needs to waive the NDAs and come clean. https://t.co/xAWf7Fv9NU
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) February 16, 2021
Since the November election, the Lincoln Project has steadily faced the exit of many employees and leaders on all levels. Another co-founder, Jennifer Horn resigned in a blistering statement, George Conway stepped away and board members Ron Steslow and Mike Madrid also left.