Lara Trump's dream RNC hire was previously linked to lewd photos on Craigslist
Trump wants to hire QAnon conspiracy theorist and right-wing activist Scott Presler, who allegedly posted sexually explicit photos of himself in an RNC office on Craigslist in 2016
Written by Justin Horowitz
Published
New co-chair of the Republican National Committee Lara Trump recently indicated her intent to hire QAnon conspiracy theorist Scott Presler to beef up the organization’s so-called “legal ballot harvesting division.”
But when Presler worked alongside the RNC in 2016, as a Republican Party of Virginia operative, he resigned after allegedly posting explicit photos of himself engaged in sexual activity — at an RNC office, no less — on Craigslist.
According to Politico Playbook, here’s how it went down:
He previously worked with and reported to the RNC as a Republican Party of Virginia operative until the party suddenly cut ties in August 2016. According to three people familiar with the circumstances, Presler engaged in sexual activity inside a Virginia Beach office the RNC shared with the state party — and posted explicit pictures of the encounter on Craigslist.
Yes, you read that right. Craigslist.
After party officials were made aware of the photos, Presler was confronted about what had happened and — seeing the writing on the wall — resigned. Federal campaign finance records confirm the state party stopped paying Presler just two months before the 2016 election.
Reached by phone Wednesday, Presler hung up on Playbook, and he did not respond to subsequent messages detailing the allegation. The RNC declined to comment, except to note that Presler never worked directly for the committee, and the Virginia GOP did not respond to messages seeking comment.
During a March 14 interview with right-wing influencer and serial plagiarist Benny Johnson, Trump heaped praise on Presler, saying, “I'm going to have a call very soon with Scott Presler, who is an amazing vote register, he has registered so many people in this country.”
“I think he's fantastic,” she added. “I want him on our legal ballot harvesting division."
Presler responded to Trump’s invitation to work at the RNC on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Let’s come together as a family & save the country we love."
Presler has promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory dozens of times on Instagram and was on the U.S. Capitol grounds during the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Additionally, Presler has worked for Act for America, an organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center has described as an “anti-Muslim hate group."
In January, Presler appeared on former Trump strategist Steve Bannon's War Room podcast to attack then-RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel.
The RNC also recently hired former Trump attorney and former OAN host Christina Bobb as “senior counsel for election integrity.”