The Lincoln Project has come out swinging against its co-founder, John Weaver, after the New York Times published an explosive new investigation into his gay sexting scandal.
Quick recap: Weaver, who is married to a woman and has two children, came out as gay last month after multiple young men came forward to say they had received unsolicited sexual messages from him, often coupled with internship or employment offers.
“For too long I have tried to live a life that wasn’t completely true,” Weaver said in a statement after the story broke. “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 also issued an apology to the men he made feel uncomfortable, as well as to his family, friends, and colleagues who were disappointed in him.
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Related: Right-wing Lincoln Project founder comes out, apologizes for “inappropriate” messages to men
Now, a story published by the New York Times shows the situation was more sinister than initially believed, alleging that Weaver didn’t just sext the men, he was often “aggressive” in his approach and left them feeling “preyed upon.” On top of that, it wasn’t just a few young men; it was almost two dozen.
The NYT reports:
Mr. Weaver sent overt sexual solicitations to at least 10 of the men and, in the most explicit messages, offered professional and personal assistance in exchange for sex. He told one man he would “spoil you when we see each other,” according to a message reviewed by The New York Times. “Help you other times. Give advice, counsel, help with bills. You help me … sensually.”
Interviews with the 21 young men, as well as a review of screenshots of dozens of messages he sent them over the last five years, show that his online behavior was in many cases aggressive and unwanted.
In some cases, the young men were still minors. One alleges Weaver first contacted him when he was 14, then again when he was 17 to ask, “Are you in HS still?”
Another young man says he was just 18 when Weaver messaged him to say he wanted to take him to Las Vegas and “spoil” him with “dinner and drinks.”
Often Weaver would ask the men questions about their bodies, whether they were circumcised, and request they share “thirst trap” photos.
In response to the New York Times report, the Lincoln Project has issued a strongly-worded statement against Weaver, who took a leave of absence from the group last summer and announced last month he would not be returning.
It said:
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.
The Lincoln Project today released the following statement. pic.twitter.com/k9QkUsiFO5
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) January 31, 2021
Weaver has not issued any further comment since his remarks last month.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Cam
No surprise, a long term Republican turns out to be a closet case harrassing others.
Too bad he didn’t break from the GOP earlier, he may have come out and spared himself this self hating closet case drama.
Brian
There seem to be a few different things going on here. The 20-somethings were looking for jobs, and he suggested that they use business meetings for sex. But what’s the explanation for contact with the 14-yr. old? No 14-yr. old anywhere has enough experience to be seriously working on political campaigns, not even as an intern.
radiooutmike
Most of his actions seem to be of bad taste with a whiff of a inappropriateness.
But the 14 year old… Wong, wrong and wrong.
dhmonarch89
let’s never forget- yes, The Lincoln Project is anti Trump- but they are a group of Republicans.
Kangol2
That they are, diehard Republicans!
8millionandcounting
Deeply closeted men are usually creepy. If they are in a place of authority or influence they are
too quick to throw out the quid pro quo card but did he do anything illegal or was he just being a sleaze ball?
What was a 14 year old engaging with a grown ass man with kids by text? Was this on grinder, scruff or gay sites? How did they engage in the first place to the point of sexting?
Guys a creep but his issues are with himself and his family and not worth any more of my time.
Donston
Offering briberies is illegal. Sexual harassment is illegal. Soliciting a minor is illegal. So, yeah, this isn’t just about being a “creep”. He’s also another hypocritical authority figures and politician who’s life decisions don’t mirror his politics.
I ultimately don’t care much about closet cases. But I do think you’re broad-stroking. Being closeted doesn’t equate to being “creepy”. Megalomaniacs who use their power/money to control/manipulate others are gonna always be the ones most frequently exposed. The dudes who don’t get exposed are typically not out here offering tons of guys briberies and soliciting many. The dudes who are able to keep it completely on the DL usually just hook up with random escorts occasionally, or they acquire a whole side dude. He got messy and was too thirsty. It also helps to keep things quiet when you’re just homosexual or sexually homo-leaning but not really “gay” when it comes to the romantic, affection, emotional investment, relationship contentment side of things. It seems like he wanted these dudes to “like” him and was trying to build emotional and romantic bonds with these guys. That also makes you more vulnerable to exposure.
LumpyPillows
8, you might best read the article before commenting. It tells you why.