According to Mediate, amidst a backdrop of controversies surrounding alleged sexual misconduct and financial impropriety within the American Conservative Union (ACU), the organization’s vice chairman, Charlie Gerow, has stepped down from his position. Gerow has reportedly called for an internal investigation into additional allegations of sexual misconduct raised against Donald Trump’s close friend and supporter, ACU chairman Matt Schlapp.
For some time now, the parent company of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has grappled with accusations directed at Matt Schlapp. He is facing a $9.4 million lawsuit for alleged groping of a campaign staffer for Herschel Walker in the past year. Schlapp has denied the allegations. Moreover, separate claims have arisen suggesting that he engaged in unwanted physical advances toward others on multiple occasions in recent years.
In a letter sent to fellow ACU board members, Charlie Gerow announced his resignation while urging the board to initiate an independent investigation into the accusations against Matt Schlapp. Gerow’s call for an investigation was accompanied by a request to perform a forensic audit of the organization’s finances, seek legal counsel’s opinion on compliance with bylaws and applicable laws, and thoroughly review exit interviews of staff who have recently left.
I will continue to pray that the difficulties they are encountering will be dealt with openly and honestly. 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 organizations finances, to obtain a written opinion of counsel that the organization is in full compliance with its own bylaws and all applicable law and to thoroughly review all the exit interviews of the large number of staff who have recently left.
Schlapp didn’t respond to the Post’s request for comment, but they did receive a retort from ACU executive committee member Matt Smith.
These allegations are completely fabricated and represent a blatant attempt by Mr. Gerow and disgruntled individuals to force Mr. Schlapp to step down…Only when it became clear that he was not going to be reelected to the board did he fabricate these false allegations.
In response to Gerow’s resignation and call for an investigation, an ACU executive committee member, Matt Smith, dismissed the allegations as fabricated and an attempt by Gerow to compel Schlapp’s resignation.
The situation within ACU has also been further complicated by concerns surrounding the alleged misuse of the organization’s funds.
