CPAC 2021 has seen a dramatic decline in attendance and sponsorships, with former President Donald Trump's influence on the event waning. Nikki Haley's speech was met with a polite but only mildly interested audience, and chants of "Trump 2024!" echoed through the hall as she left. Al Cardenas, a former chair of the American Conservative Union, noted that the event had been boosted by its ties to Donald Trump, but now appears to be losing relevance.
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The Republican Party is facing a divide as it prepares for the 2024 presidential nomination process, with former President Donald Trump headlining the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis skipping the event for the Club for Growth's private donor retreat. Adding to the turmoil is a lawsuit filed against Matt Schlapp, chair of the American Conservative Union, which organizes the CPAC. These events will likely provide further insight into the party's future.
President Joe Biden will visit Florida on Thursday, a former swing state home to two potential Republican challengers in the 2024 election. Biden's visit follows his State of the Union address, in which he proposed to protect Social Security and Medicare, and will draw a contrast with Sen. Rick Scott's proposal to sunset all federal legislation every five years. It will also be watched to see how President Trump's hostility towards Gov. Ron DeSantis plays out in the Republican base.
A Republican operative has filed a civil lawsuit against Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, and his wife Mercedes Schlapp, seeking $9.4 million in damages. The plaintiff, who worked as an aide to Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker, alleges that Schlapp sexually assaulted him during a car ride following a night of drinking. The lawsuit also claims that the Schlapps and others dishonestly tried to discredit the plaintiff. No court date has been set and the plaintiff is seeking a jury trial.
Matt Schlapp, one of the nation’s most prominent conservative leaders and a top ally of former President Donald Trump, is facing allegations of sexual misconduct.…