Lincoln Project backers may cut off donations, Steve Schmidt quits

The Lincoln Challenge, the group of conservative operatives that made a splash with viral advertisements focusing on former President Donald Trump, is liable to dropping monetary help after one in all its founders was accused of sexual misconduct.

A number of rich donors are contemplating reducing off their backing for the political motion committee, in keeping with folks shut to those financiers. They’re paying particularly shut consideration to the outcomes of an exterior investigation into whether or not different leaders knew about allegations that co-founder John Weaver harassed a number of males, these folks added.

Shortly after this text was printed, Steve Schmidt, one other co-founder of the group, resigned after controversy over the general public disclosure of a personal Twitter direct message between former Lincoln Challenge co-founder Jennifer Horn and a reporter.

“That direct message ought to by no means have been made public. It’s my job because the senior chief to simply accept duty for the super misjudgment to launch it,” Schmidt mentioned.

In a letter asserting his resignation, Schmidt apologized to Horn, who lately give up the group, and revealed he had been sexually molested by a medic whereas a 13-year-old boy at a Boy Scout camp.

Schmidt, who has denied beforehand understanding in regards to the allegations in opposition to Weaver till lately, mentioned “John Weaver has put me again into that faraway cabin with Ray, my Boy Scout chief. I’m incandescently indignant about it. I’m indignant as a result of I do know the harm that he brought about to me, and I do know the journey that lies forward for each younger man that trusted, feared and was abused by John Weaver.”

A number of of the folks near the group’s donors declined to be named as a result of they have been involved about retribution by Lincoln Challenge leaders and their allies.

Regardless of quite a few reviews on the contrary, The Lincoln Challenge — whose unique members embrace late Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential marketing campaign boss Schmidt, creator and former George H.W. Bush marketing campaign advisor Rick Wilson and conservative lawyer George Conway — has denied it was conscious of any allegations of misconduct in opposition to Weaver till lately. The group condemned Weaver’s habits on Jan. 31.

Weaver instructed The New York Occasions in January that he was a closeted homosexual man and that he is “actually sorry to those males and everybody and for letting so many individuals down.”

The Lincoln Challenge mentioned Thursday that it’s “retaining a best-in-class exterior skilled to assessment Mr. Weaver’s tenure with the group and to ascertain each accountability and finest practices going ahead for The Lincoln Challenge.”

The FBI is investigating the allegations in opposition to Weaver, as properly, in keeping with impartial journalist Yashar Ali, who cited sources claiming to be contacted by brokers.

The Lincoln Challenge didn’t reply to CNBC’s follow-up requests for remark.

The group will want continued monetary help if it intends to maintain pursuing its acknowledged mission to focus on pro-Trump politicians and the previous president. Reportedly, the group has been trying to kind a media enterprise. It already has a stay on-line present known as “LPTV.” A consultant from United Expertise Company, which reportedly had been in talks to construct out the group’s media presence, didn’t reply to a request for remark.

The PAC raised over $87 million, a lot of it from a number of Democratic megadonors. Leaders of the group have been so assured of their fundraising prowess that some organizers instructed CNBC in Could that they have been planning to method billionaire and former presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg for a donation. Information present that Bloomberg didn’t find yourself contributing.

A big portion of The Lincoln Challenge’s spending went towards paying distributors owned by its leaders. The group was based in December 2019.

Donor Jen Pritzker, a member of the rich and influential Pritzker household, prompt that she could cease giving cash to the group in gentle of the allegations in opposition to Weaver. Pritzker contributed to President Joe Biden’s joint fundraising committee and different Democratic teams.

“I believed within the Lincoln Challenge’s mission and supported its efforts aimed to forestall the re-election of Donald Trump,” Pritzker instructed CNBC in a press release. “As a donor, I trusted that my present could be used to additional help the group’s targets. Sexual misconduct is one thing that can not be tolerated by any group. Anybody generally is a sufferer and these allegations needs to be handled with respect for the legislation, and human rights.”

A spokeswoman for Pritzker’s Tawani Enterprises mentioned Pritzker hadn’t decided but on whether or not she’s going to contribute sooner or later.

Pritzker gave $100,000 to The Lincoln Challenge in October, Federal Election Fee information present. John Pritzker, one other member of the household, additionally gave the group $100,000. He didn’t reply to a request for remark.

When requested by CNBC whether or not Jeffrey Katzenberg would cease giving to The Lincoln Challenge, an advisor for the Hollywood energy participant did not rule it out. “Not our focus,” the advisor mentioned in an e-mail. Katzenberg gave $100,000 to the PAC in August, information mentioned. Katzenberg was additionally a significant Biden bundler.

In the meantime, CNBC has realized that two earlier Lincoln Challenge distributors will not be working with the group once more.

Aaron, Thomas & Associates, which calls itself a specialist in political junk mail, obtained over $90,000 from the group in September, information present. The agency’s work with the group had ceased earlier than the Weaver allegations arose, however the firm has determined to not settle for additional enterprise from The Lincoln Challenge.

“Completely not,” founder Fred Thomas mentioned in response to CNBC’s inquiry about whether or not it could work with The Lincoln Challenge once more. “Once we quoted doing this work, we weren’t even conscious of what it was or who it was for. We ended up brokering it out to another person in any case,” he added, noting that his firm “do not care to provide damaging mail.”

Anedot, a marketing campaign donation processor that was utilized by The Lincoln Challenge within the final election cycle, is closing its account with the group, in keeping with an organization consultant who declined to be named.

“Anedot has lately been made conscious of sure incidents that brought about our Accounts group to inform the account holder that the account could be closed,” the consultant mentioned.

The nonpartisan Middle for Responsive Politics says Anedot was paid over $3 million in charges in the course of the 2020 cycle. The Anedot consultant mentioned it doesn’t disclose causes for closing accounts.

As for The Lincoln Challenge constructing its media enterprise, CNBC reached out to Zeldavision, a livestreaming manufacturing firm that obtained over $1 million from the group. The enterprise promotes a partnership with the PAC. In keeping with Zeldavision’s web site, it additionally seems to be serving to produce The Lincoln Challenge’s stay content material.

The agency didn’t reply when requested whether or not it can stand by the PAC going ahead.

Tara Setmayer, who labels herself on her Twitter web page as a senior advisor and who has hosted an LPTV present, declared that she was “dismayed & disillusioned” by current occasions surrounding The Lincoln Challenge.

“It can’t be tolerated. Extra to say quickly,” Setmayer added.

– Further reporting by Dan Mangan