On Sunday, The New York Occasions dropped a disturbing report that includes the accounts of 21 males who accused anti-Trump Lincoln Undertaking co-founder John Weaver of sending them “unsolicited and sexually provocative messages,” with one saying he was 14 years previous when he was first contacted. And regardless of selling the group, and Weaver’s admission, CBS and NBC have refused to cowl the disgusting scandal throughout their Monday night newscasts.
Although they solely coated the Weaver’s scandal Sunday evening, ABC’s World Information Tonight spent two and half minutes detailing a number of the accounts.
“Tonight, explosive allegations in opposition to a prime Republican strategist and co-founder of the anti-Trump group the Lincoln Undertaking,” reported ABC’s Andrew Dymburt. “The New York Occasions reporting John Weaver, who labored on the presidential campaigns of John McCain and John Kasich, allegedly ‘Despatched unsolicited and sexually provocative messages’ to younger males on-line, typically providing to assist them get work in politics, based on the report.”
In addition to asking younger males to ship him “lewd images,” Weaver arguably spent years grooming one man beginning when he was 14, and rising extra “sexually suggestive” as soon as he turned 18. ABC spoke with that younger man (Click on “broaden”):
DYMBURT: The Occasions, citing interviews with 21 males, together with Cole Trickle Miele, who advised The Occasions the messages started in 2015 when he was 14 years previous. They escalated through the years, Trickle Miele mentioned, pointing to a June, 2018, change when Weaver allegedly requested, “Are you in highschool nonetheless?” Trickle Miele, advised Weaver he can be 18 the following Spring, to which weaver replied, “You look older. You’ve got gotten taller.”
Trickle Miele confirmed his account in The Occasions to ABC information and offered screenshots of the messages.
COLE TRICKLE MIELE: To me, it was simply actually like – not star-struck however form of, you understand, form of like, “oh okay, that is cool, that is someone larger up who’s reaching out.” And that was tremendous. The messages through the years bought extra regarding, and suggestive, sexually suggestive.
Whereas CBS Night Information was avoiding the Lincoln Undertaking story, they spent a part of their Monday newscast making an attempt to tie former President Trump to the navy coup in Myanmar.
And it wasn’t so way back that CBS was prompting the anti-Trump group. Throughout the Democratic Nationwide Conference, then-political correspondent Ed O’Keefe (now a White Home correspondent) boasted: “The person [Hillary Clinton] misplaced to is the goal of yet one more advert, produced by a Republican group in search of to unseat him.” Including: “This time, it’s targeted on how he bungled the U.S. response to Hurricane Maria, after it devastated Puerto Rico.”
As for NBC’s reliance on the Lincoln Undertaking for content material, one simply has the search NewsBusters here to see how MSNBC was a bastion for his or her bile. And all through the Trump Presidency, the networks would gush in regards to the snide tweets Lincoln Undertaking co-founder George Conway would put up in opposition to Trump. Together with ABC.
In early August of final 12 months, ABC’s This Week did a whole segment celebrating the Lincoln Project advert marketing campaign. Fill-in host Martha Raddatz was thrilled the group was “waging struggle in opposition to the president of their very own celebration.”
“Blistering advertisements focusing on President Trump however not by Democrats however from a bunch of Republicans intent on taking down the chief of their celebration. Many utilizing the President’s personal phrases in opposition to him,” boasted ABC correspondent Mary Bruce, on the time.
Bruce was additionally grateful the group was doing then-candidate Joe Biden’s soiled work. “These advertisements will not be refined, they’re brutal, they’re hitting trump the place it hurts, making an attempt to beat him at his personal recreation. These are merely advertisements Biden couldn’t run,” she mentioned.
In the meantime, Weaver, who’s married to a lady and has two youngsters, admitted to sending the messages to the younger males. “I’m so disheartened and unhappy that I’ll have introduced discomfort to anybody,” Dymburt learn from Weaver’s assertion.
This blackout of the Lincoln Undertaking intercourse scandal was made attainable due to profitable sponsorships from Liberty Mutual on each CBS and NBC. Their contact info is linked so you’ll be able to inform them in regards to the biased information they fund. CBS Night Information has additionally requested folks to textual content anchor Norah O’Donnell at this quantity: (202) 217-1107.
The transcript is beneath, click on “broaden” to learn:
ABC’s World Information Tonight
January 31, 2021
6:12:56 p.m. JapaneseTOM LLAMAS: We flip now to a significant scandal involving prime Republican strategist John Weaver, the co-founder of the Lincoln Undertaking who labored on the presidential campaigns of John McCain and John Kasich. In line with The New York Occasions, a number of males say he despatched unsolicited and sexual messages on-line. ABC’s Andrew Dymburt with the main points and his response.
[Cuts to video]
ANDREW DYMBURT: Tonight, explosive allegations in opposition to a prime Republican strategist and co-founder of the anti-Trump group the Lincoln Undertaking. The New York Occasions reporting John Weaver, who labored on the presidential campaigns of John McCain and John Kasich, allegedly “Despatched unsolicited and sexually provocative messages” to younger males on-line, typically providing to assist them get work in politics, based on the report.
In some instances, Weaver allegedly asking for lewd images suggesting one man “put up a thirst lure” or “ship me a decide.”
The Occasions, citing interviews with 21 males, together with Cole Trickle Miele, who advised The Occasions the messages started in 2015 when he was 14 years previous. They escalated through the years, Trickle Miele mentioned, pointing to a June, 2018, change when Weaver allegedly requested, “Are you in highschool nonetheless?” Trickle Miele, advised Weaver he can be 18 the following Spring, to which weaver replied, “You look older. You’ve got gotten taller.”
Trickle Miele confirmed his account in The Occasions to ABC information and offered screenshots of the messages.
COLE TRICKLE MIELE: To me, it was simply actually like – not star-struck however form of, you understand, form of like, “oh okay, that is cool, that is someone larger up who’s reaching out.” And that was tremendous. The messages through the years bought extra regarding, and suggestive, sexually suggestive.
DYMBURT: In an announcement to ABC Information, Weaver steered he believed the messages had been consensual. “I’m so disheartened and unhappy that I’ll have introduced discomfort to anybody.”
LINCOLN PROJECT AD: There’s mourning in America.
DYMBURT: Weaver and lifelong Republicans fashioned the Lincoln Undertaking, and their group actively campaigned in opposition to former President Trump in 2020, saying he deserted Republican rules. Weaver spoke to 60 Minutes late final 12 months.
LESLEY STAHL: How painful is it so that you can flip in opposition to the Republican Celebration?
JOHN WEAVER: There are moments of melancholy about it. Little doubt.
[Cuts back to live]
DYMBURT: And Weaver is not affiliated or related to the Lincoln Undertaking. Tonight, the group saying in an announcement they’re shocked and sickened by these accusations. And not one of the males accuse Weaver of any illegal conduct. Tom.
LLAMAS: Andrew Dymburt for us tonight. Andrew, thanks.
