COLUMBUS – Twenty-one men have accused Republican strategist John Weaver – a key adviser in ex-Ohio Gov. John Kasich's presidential bid – of sending sexually provocative messages, according to a New York Times report.
Some of the unsolicited messages, including those sent to a 14-year-old boy, occurred while Weaver worked for Kasich. Weaver joined Kasich's presidential campaign as a senior strategist in early June 2015 and remained on the payroll of Kasich's political action committee through May 2019.
"These allegations caught us by complete surprise as we had not seen any evidence of this behavior while he was working with us," Kasich spokesman Jim Lynch said. "While he has not been with our organization for quite some time, we are extremely disappointed by what we have learned."
Weaver first reached out to Trickle Miele, then 14, on Twitter in 2015. At the time, Miele supported the Republican Party and was a fan of Kasich. Although initially "semi-starstruck" by Weaver, Miele told the New York Times that he became increasingly uncomfortable with the messages.
When Miele was 18 years old, Weaver wrote, “I want to come to Vegas and take you to dinner and drinks and spoil you!!" before referencing the younger man's body.
Weaver, a co-founder of the anti-President Donald Trump group called Lincoln Project, often offered professional assistance in exchange for sex in online messages. Some of these offers occurred while Weaver worked for Kasich, according to the Times article.
None of the men in the Times report accused Weaver of unlawful conduct and the unsolicited messages led to one physical encounter, which was consensual.
“John Weaver led a secret life that was built on a foundation of deception at every level," read a statement from the Lincoln Project released Sunday morning. "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."
Weaver responded to the men's allegations in the Times: "In living a deeply closeted life, I allowed my pain to cause pain for others. For that, I am truly sorry to these men and everyone and for letting so many people down.”
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