Lincoln Project hires law firm to review allegations against co-founder

The Lincoln Project hired the law firm Paul Hastings to review the harassment allegations involving its co-founder John Weaver, the group announced on Monday. 

The anti-Trump organization retained the law firm to look into Weaver’s tenure “as part of a comprehensive review of our operations and culture” that is “currently underway.”

The announcement came days after The Lincoln Project committed to hiring an independent body to analyze Weaver’s time at the organization after reports surfaced accusing him of harassing 21 men.

“We are committed to creating a positive, diverse, and inclusive workplace environment at The Lincoln Project and inappropriate behavior by anyone associated with the organization will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” The Lincoln Project said in a statement. “We have already taken decisive action to address internal concerns.”

The group, which ran hundreds of advertisements ahead of the 2020 election, declared that it had released current and former staff from confidentiality agreements to discuss work conditions. The Lincoln Project also vowed to continue producing and sending out content while the review is occurring, according to its statement.

“Based on the findings of this review we will take all necessary action to correct any issues or deficiencies that are identified,” the statement said.

“In order to continue fulfilling our promise to our millions of supporters and contributors, we must address any and all internal organizational issues immediately and put in place a governance and diverse leadership structure that reflects our core values and ensures we will continue to attract the best talent available,” it added. 

Read The Lincoln Project’s latest statement: pic.twitter.com/14TwPPTFdV

— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) February 16, 2021

Weaver, one of several co-founders of the organization designed to work against Trump’s reelection, sent sexually explicit messages to young men, saying he could connect them to jobs in politics, The New York Times reported. 

Only one of the men started a relationship with Weaver and was consenting. 

The Lincoln Project slammed Weaver, who had worked on the late Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign, as “a predator, a liar, and an abuser” after the allegations surfaced last month.