Multiple sources have spoken out about the latest allegations involving CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp. In recent months, the right-wing powerbroker has come under increasing fire from critics over a sexual battery lawsuit, unexplained discrepancies in financial documents and internal strife within the American Conservative Union (ACU).
Schlapp denies all the accusations against him. He has spoken most forcefully in public against then-Herschel Walker for Senate campaign staffer Carlton Huffman, who claims Schlapp allegedly fondled him without his consent as he drove Schlapp to his hotel following a Walker campaign event on Oct. 19, 2022. However, a new report, including interviews with multiple sources, says Schlapp secretly tried to settle with his accuser. Huffman countered with a substantially higher amount Schlapp wouldn't entertain.
Mediaite has more, including allegations that the ACU board was never consulted with, much less voted on the settlement offer:
Schlapp has denied Huffman's accusation, though separate claims have alleged that he made multiple unwanted physical advances toward others in the last few years. The Schlapp family's publicist, Mark Corallo, denied making any settlement offers, telling the Beast, “We take seriously our professional conduct and would never discuss the details of confidential conversations between lawyers. But since it appears Mr. Huffman or his attorney have done so, let me set the record straight: There was no settlement offer. From the outset, Mr. and Mrs. Schlapp have been and remain prepared to go to trial and are confident of prevailing in court.”
Huffman's lawyer called Corallo's response “categorically false.”
Huffman seeks $9.4 million in damages for the alleged sexual battery, defamation and conspiracy to impugn him. In an interview with The Washington Post, Huffman provided text, phone logs and video recordings that corroborate his claims that he shared what happened to him almost immediately. Three members of Walker's campaign and six of Huffman's family and friends said he told them of the alleged incident involving Schlapp within 24 hours of their encounter.
Mediaite continues:
The settlement report comes amid recurring questions about Schlapp's transparency, the ACU's handling of the accusations against him, and the concerns about how they've been using their finances. These concerns were brought to a flashpoint in recent days when Charlie Gerow, the vice chairman of the ACU's board, announced his resignation while imploring the organization to do more to investigate the Schlapp accusations and their financial situation.
Several high-profile resignations have roiled the ACU in recent months. Gerow resigned late last week, stepping down as vice chairman of ACU/CPAC and as a board member on the ACU Foundation (ACUF). (RELATED: Longtime ACU/CPAC Leader David Keene Speaks Out After Vice Chair's Resignation)
As American Liberty News previously reported:
Gerow's resignation comes on the heels of the organization's Treasurer, former Congressman Bob Beauprez's resignation three months ago who brought up questions of financial and office mismanagement in his letter to the Board of Directors. Politico also reported earlier today that attorney Tim Ryan also resigned earlier this week.
In resigning, Gerow issued the following statement:
“It is with deep sadness and true regret that I have joined several of my colleagues in resigning from the Board of ACU/CPAC. I have consistently exercised my fiduciary duties to the organization and have always done my very best to fulfill all of my responsibilities to this very vital organization. I know I have done the right things.
It was a great honor to serve the conservative movement in my leadership roles at CPAC/ACU/ACUF and I will continue to pray that the difficulties they are encountering will be dealt with openly and honestly.
Although I will not now be able to participate in the August Board meeting, I am calling on my former colleagues to authorize an independent investigation into the charges against Matt Schlapp, to conduct an independent forensic audit of the organization's finances, to obtain a written opinion of counsel that the organization is in full compliance with its own by-laws and all applicable law and to thoroughly review all the exit interviews of the large number of staff who have recently left CPAC/ACU/ACUF.”
According to tax documents, Schlapp received a $150,000 payment for “business services” in 2021. The following year, he received an annual compensation of $600,000.
The funds Schlapp received go against the organization's history, as no previous ACU/CPAC chairman has ever been paid for their role in leading the well-known conservative organization.
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I have serious doubts about these accusations. If they are true, why didn’t he go to the police and file a complaint? Why did he tell Herschel Walker’s staff rather than Walker himself? He told several family members? WOW, how convenient. My last thought is “Why did he go to a left wing news outlet, the Daily Beast, rather than Newsmax or some other conservative publication.