Despite sex abuse allegations, Tim Ballard invited to speak at CPAC

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Tim Ballard, former CEO of Operation Underground Railroad, was selected as a speaker for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) taking place in the nation’s capital next month.

The conference, which claims to be the largest gathering of conservatives in the world, will take place over several days in February in Washington D.C.

The list of nearly 40 speakers, including Ballard, was announced on Friday by the conservative foundation. The speakers range from politicians, such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) and Dr. Ben Carson, to podcast and show hosts, such as Ben Ferguson and Mark Levin.

The CPAC’s choice to include Ballard is controversial given the recent lawsuits against the nonprofit founder. Ballard, who founded the anti-human trafficking organization OUR a decade ago, has been accused of sexual abuse by several women. Ballard has denied all the allegations calling them “baseless.”

READ NEXT: Everything to know about the Tim Ballard controversies

Several prominent people and organizations have separated themselves from Ballard following the allegations, including OUR, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, and media personality Glenn Beck.

This conference comes after a lawsuit accused Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, which organizes CPAC, of sexual battery and defamation, according to The Washington Post.

The Post says the lawsuit claims CPAC officials knew of the accusations and failed to remove Schlapp from power. Schlapp has said the criticism comes from “those with an ax to grind.”

ABC4 has reached out to The Spear Fund, on Tim Ballard’s behalf, and CPAC for comment, and the station has not received word from either organization.

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