The Lincoln Project, a prominent anti-Trump super PAC, has become the target of cyberthieves who executed fraudulent transactions, resulting in the loss of $35,000. The project, known for its persistent opposition to former President Donald Trump, revealed that the theft was perpetrated by hackers who gained access to a committee vendor’s email account. Despite the incident, the group emphasized that its operations have remained unaffected.
Upon discovering the hack, the Lincoln Project’s vendor promptly notified the group, and appropriate steps were taken to address the issue. This included reporting the incident to the bank’s fraud department and implementing new procedures to verify invoices and payments. The vendor’s email was compromised, allowing the hackers to send invoices that appeared legitimate from the vendor’s authentic email account. It is important to note that multiple clients of the vendor were impacted by the hack.
The Lincoln Project spokesperson, Greg Minchak, clarified that the group values the privacy of the vendor and declined to disclose their identity. Federal Election Commission records indicate that the Lincoln Project made five-figure payments to numerous vendors during the first three months of 2024. Among these vendors were law firms, consulting firms, media production companies, and political strategy consulting firms.
Minchak, who serves as a Lincoln Project contractor, receives a monthly payment of $10,000, according to federal records. The Lincoln Project emerged in late 2019 as a platform for disaffected Republicans and conservatives to voice their opposition to Trump. Its prominent leaders include Rick Wilson, Reed Galen, Tara Setmayer, and Stuart Stevens. The project’s financial success during the 2020 election cycle, which saw it raise over $85.1 million, was largely driven by contributions from wealthy anti-Trump individuals.
However, the Lincoln Project has faced challenges in its efforts to hinder Trump’s 2024 presidential bid. A sexual harassment scandal involving co-founder John Weaver led to his departure, while co-founder George Conway called for the group’s dissolution. The New York Times has raised questions about the group’s spending habits and financial arrangements.
Despite these setbacks, the Lincoln Project continues to advocate against Trump, albeit with less financial success compared to the 2020 election cycle. As of March 31, 2024, the project had raised just under $11 million, spending more than $1.9 million while maintaining a cash balance of about $2 million.
The theft from the Lincoln Project is part of a larger pattern of political committee thefts that have occurred this year. Other notable targets include the campaign of Rep. Pete Aguilar and the political action committee of Marriott International. The Lincoln Project’s incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat of cybercrime and the importance of implementing robust security measures to safeguard against fraudulent activities.
