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Tag: ACU
March 8, 2024
News
Politics

CPAC Tax Docs Reveal Massive Revenue Drop, Lowest Since 2018.

The American Conservative Union (ACU), the parent organization of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) led by chairman Matt Schlapp, faced significant revenue losses last year, according to a recent tax filing. The loss in revenue follows revelations that Schlapp was the subject of a lawsuit alleging the sexual battery of a young man, Republican strategist Carlton Huffman. The tax document revealed the ACU’s conference revenue dropped by over half, from $11.7 million to $5.4 million, marking the nonprofit’s lowest income since 2018.

The sexual assault allegations against Schlapp became public less than two months before CPAC 2023. As a result, attendance and sponsorships took a significant hit. The tax filing revealed that ACU’s overall revenue dropped substantially. The hefty salaries, including Schlapp’s personal income — at least $350,000 per year — contributed to ACU’s fiscal challenges. The wages rose by nearly $600,000 from the previous year, while the revenue generated barely covered the $2.2 million paid out to the organization’s top 13 earners.

During the same period, the organization’s treasurer, Bob Beauprez, resigned, explaining: “Over three years ago, I had become quite concerned about the obvious unease, frustration, palpable tension and anxiety among staff, and high rate of turnover. Even from the outside, it was clear that things were not going well.”

He added: “I cannot deliver a financial report at the upcoming board meeting with any confidence in the accuracy of the numbers.”

Last year, it was revealed that Schlapp offered his alleged victim a six-figure payoff to drop the lawsuit. In February, Fox News host Sean Hannity and several former CPAC staffers were subpoenaed as part of the ongoing investigations into the allegations against Schlapp.

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The American Conservative Union (ACU), the parent organization of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) led by chairman Matt Schlapp, faced significant revenue losses last year, according to a recent tax filing. The loss in revenue follows revelations that Schlapp was the subject of a lawsuit alleging the sexual battery of a young man, Republican strategist Carlton Huffman. The tax document revealed the ACU’s conference revenue dropped by over half, from $11.7 million to $5.4 million, marking the nonprofit’s lowest income since 2018.

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matt schlapp
August 29, 2023
News

REPORT: Matt Schlapp Made 6-Figure Offer to Settle Sexual Battery Claims.

American Conservative Union chairman Matt Schlapp allegedly attempted to settle a lawsuit accusing him of sexual battery and defamation, according to The Daily Beast. Multiple sources claimed that Schlapp proposed a settlement offer “in the low six figures” to resolve the lawsuit brought against him and his wife by Republican strategist Carlton Huffman. However, Huffman reportedly rejected the offer and countered with a significantly higher sum, which Schlapp turned down.

Huffman’s lawsuit seeks $9.4 million in damages. Schlapp has denied Huffman’s allegations, but separate claims have surfaced involving unwanted advances toward others in recent years. Publicist Mark Corallo, representing the Schlapp family, denied any settlement offers and emphasized their readiness for trial, expressing confidence in their ability to prevail in court.

The settlement report has sparked discussions about Schlapp’s transparency and how the American Conservative Union (ACU) has handled the accusations against him. Questions have also been raised about the organization’s financial practices. These concerns gained more attention when Charlie Gerow, the vice chairman of the ACU’s board, resigned emphasizing the need for further investigation into the Schlapp accusations and the ACU’s financial situation.

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American Conservative Union chairman Matt Schlapp allegedly attempted to settle a lawsuit accusing him of sexual battery and defamation, according to The Daily Beast. Multiple sources claimed that Schlapp proposed a settlement offer "in the low six figures" to resolve the lawsuit brought against him and his wife by Republican strategist Carlton Huffman. However, Huffman reportedly rejected the offer and countered with a significantly higher sum, which Schlapp turned down. show more

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
If you want even more “weird Matt Schlapp” world stories, I recommend reading Ben Terris’s book, which we wrote a little about here, a few months back
for exclusive members-only insights
If you want even more “weird Matt Schlapp” world stories, I recommend reading Ben Terris’s book, which we wrote a little about here, a few months back show more
for exclusive members-only insights
gerow schlapp
August 25, 2023
News
Politics

CPAC Vice Chairman Resigns, Demands Investigation into Matt Schlapp.

Charlie Gerow – a long-time ally of Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) chairman Matt Schlapp – has now resigned from his position as Vice Chairman of CPAC’s parent organization, the American Conservative Union (ACU), as pressure continues to mount on Schlapp over his alleged sexual misconduct and financial irregularities in the group.

His resignation follows several recent resignations of other officers and directors of ACU/CPAC/ACUF, including Treasurer Bob Beauprez, who described a “cancer” metastasizing inside the once-esteemed conservative conference host, exclusively revealed by The National Pulse less than three months ago.

Gerow said on Friday: “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 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 organizations 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.”

The National Pulse has previously revealed that Schlapp has “gatekept” the CPAC stage, giving friends, allies, and benefactors more prominence and even creating a “do not invite” list that included the Trump family. Schlapp and his wife Mercedes are reported to have discussed reneging on their support for Donald Trump over his position on immigration. The National Pulse also exposed his six-figure donation from a Soros-linked fund.

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Charlie Gerow – a long-time ally of Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) chairman Matt Schlapp – has now resigned from his position as Vice Chairman of CPAC's parent organization, the American Conservative Union (ACU), as pressure continues to mount on Schlapp over his alleged sexual misconduct and financial irregularities in the group.

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Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
Regular readers and long-time Raheem readers will be able to chant along with me, on this one: “I told you so!” Yes, that has become my favorite phrase
for exclusive members-only insights
Regular readers and long-time Raheem readers will be able to chant along with me, on this one: “I told you so!” Yes, that has become my favorite phrase show more
for exclusive members-only insights
cpac
June 1, 2023
Raheem J. Kassam
Exclusive
News

EXC: Leaked CPAC ‘Do Not Invite’ List Shows Schlapp’s ‘Z-List’, Including Trump Family, Congressmen, and His Own Board Members.

Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) chairman Matt Schlapp retained a “DO NOT INVITE” spreadsheet of “Z listers” for his conferences. That list has been obtained by The National Pulse, and stunningly includes names such as Eric, Barron, and Tiffany Trump, as well as America First Members of Congress, and even some of CPAC’s own board members.

Schlapp’s treasurer – former Congressman Bob Beauprez – resigned last week alleging there was a “cancer” metastasizing inside the American Conservative Union (ACU), the parent organization of CPAC, also run by Schlapp. Dozens of staff have resigned in recent months.

Schlapp’s “Z-DO NOT INVITE” list is lengthy, and on a ‘CPAC Texas’ tab, includes names such as:

  • Morton Blackwell, Priscilla O’Shaughnessy, Ron Robinson, and Tim Ryan – all believed to be current, active board members of Schlapp’s own organization;
  • Reps. Paul Gosar, Matt Gaetz, James Comer, and around 50 other Members of Congress;
  • Barron Trump, Tiffany Trump, and Eric Trump, all prominent members of the Trump family;
  • General Flynn, Kayleigh McEnany, Kellyanne Conway, Brandon Straka, and dozens more.

It’s worth noting that’s Schlapp’s favoritism is fickle, with some of the “Z-list” having spoken at subsequent CPACs. But the unearthed list will add credence to the idea that Schlapp has used CPAC and the ACU as his personal playground for years.

Former CPAC board member Ned Ryun told The National Pulse: “It’s bizarre that the head of the ACU has a do not attend list of actual conservatives who can’t attend a conservative conference. We’re talking about him barring his own board members and elected members of Congress. Beyond being absurd, and obviously deeply personal and pettish, this stinks of cronyism, and a pay-to-play attitude.”

In 2014, when Schlapp took over CPAC, he told POLITICO: “The goal of ACU is not to kick all people out who might come from a different perspective,” he said. “In its name, it’s a union, to bring people together in a coalition. That’s the goal.”

Somewhere in the last nine years, that goal appears to have changed. A new book – The Big Break – details how the Schlapps even considered dropping their support for Donald Trump in 2016 over his immigration policies.

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Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) chairman Matt Schlapp retained a "DO NOT INVITE" spreadsheet of "Z listers" for his conferences. That list has been obtained by The National Pulse, and stunningly includes names such as Eric, Barron, and Tiffany Trump, as well as America First Members of Congress, and even some of CPAC's own board members. show more

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
Matt Schlapp held a meeting last night in Virginia (May 31st) where he attempted to convince members of his board that he was competent and trustworthy enough to stay in charge of the organization
for exclusive members-only insights
Matt Schlapp held a meeting last night in Virginia (May 31st) where he attempted to convince members of his board that he was competent and trustworthy enough to stay in charge of the organization show more
for exclusive members-only insights
cpac
May 25, 2023
Raheem J. Kassam
News

EXC: CPAC Treasurer Resigns Alleging ‘Cancer in Organization Metastasizing for Years’.

The National Pulse has seen a copy of a 13-page resignation letter from former Member of Congress and recent American Conservative Union (ACU) Treasurer Bob Beauprez. The ACU is the parent organization of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), considered a powerful organization on the political right since its inception in 1974.

The organization has been run by former Bush appointee Matt Schlapp, a lobbyist for big tech firms as well as pharmaceuticals giants, since 2014.

Finances.

The letter – sent on May 23rd to Schlapp and all other members of the board – begins with Mr. Beauprez declaring “I cannot deliver a financial report at the upcoming board meeting with any confidence in the accuracy of the numbers,” before going on to reveal a “mass exodus of staff shortly before and immediately after CPAC 2023.”

He had served in the role for eight years, almost as long as Schlapp, and was considered a key Schlapp ally on the board.

The letter also establishes that the organizations chief financial officer was recently removed from his post and replaced with Schlapp’s friend Frank Sadler, campaign manager for failed presidential candidate Carly Fiorina. The subject of financial rectitude is an overarching theme of the letter, which also contains the personal and private information of ACU staff and board members, as well as allegedly maligned young staff members.

Staff ‘in Therapy’, ‘On Drugs’.

“Over three years ago I had become quite concerned about the obvious unease, frustration, palpable tension and anxiety among staff, and high rate of turnover. Even from the outside, it was clear that things were not going well,” Beauprez wrote.

Details of the matters include: “more than a few [staff] have succumbed to professional therapists and prescription drugs. There are reports of staff escaping to the restroom and being discovered crying openly. One employee became so despondent that she stepped away from a group of friends at a restaurant and was later rescued outside on the street walking aimlessly in traffic.”

Compliance.

The document also asserts the organization under Schlapp’s stewardship is not in compliance with a number of its own bylaws, and warns about potential investigation by district attorneys. Beauprez stunningly warns: “…in some cases, our operating procedures are in direct conflict with our own bylaws. Thus, [we’re] feeding red meat to the lions!”

The letter and the further investigations it is likely to spark will concern the other members of the board, which includes the Leadership Institute’s Morton Blackwell, the Young America’s Foundation’s Ron Robinson, as well as donors such as Elaine Beck, and ex-NRA President Carolyn Meadows.

The CPAC event this year in Washington, D.C. was sparsely attended. Once drawing over 10,000 people, the 2023 event scarcely reached 2,500 attendees.

 

 

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The National Pulse has seen a copy of a 13-page resignation letter from former Member of Congress and recent American Conservative Union (ACU) Treasurer Bob Beauprez. The ACU is the parent organization of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), considered a powerful organization on the political right since its inception in 1974. show more

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
The reason this is important is that the ACU was first set up in 1974, and is still a potentially influential pressure group, conference, and conservative ratings organization
for exclusive members-only insights
The reason this is important is that the ACU was first set up in 1974, and is still a potentially influential pressure group, conference, and conservative ratings organization show more
for exclusive members-only insights