(Daily360.com) A man associated with Lincoln Project founder Rick Wilson and former campaign manager for Evan McMullin has been charged with soliciting sex from a minor. Joel Searby was arrested on June 20 for snapchatting a 15 year old boy and suggesting a sexual encounter on the previous day.
It started when Searby sent a Snapchat request to the boy and told him a story about once having a crush on an older man in his 40s while he was a young boy. Searby told the minor that the man eventually kissed him and he enjoyed it. He went on to say that the man taught him “stuff,” it was “fun,” and he doesn’t “regret it.” Searby then propositioned the minor and asked him if he would be interested in a similar relationship.
After the boy said he was considering the proposal, Searby began to tell the boy that their relationship has to remain secret forever. Searby sent photos of himself taking a shower as well as photos of him with a bulge in his underwear. He created a plan for the boy to visit him at his guest house in a way that would prevent the minor’s parents from becoming suspicious.
The sheriff’s department started responding to Searby in place of the boy. Searby sent a message asking the boy to come over to assist him with yard work. This message was sent via text message directly to the minor’s phone, which confirmed to law enforcement that Searby was the one sending the messages. Searby is currently being held without bond, but the judge may grant a bond in a future hearing.
Searby was the campaign manager for Evan McMullin, who ran as an independent candidate in the 2016 election in an attempt to defeat Donald Trump. McMullin is also a former CIA officer. Rick Wilson was also supporting the McMullin campaign and working with Searby. He later founded the Lincoln Project, a group of anti-Trump Republicans.
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