The Heritage Foundation has seen additional board turmoil after President Kevin Roberts defended Tucker Carlson for interviewing Nick Fuentes. A leaked November meeting revealed sharp staff criticism, and several senior employees and board members have departed. Reporter Mike Warren said Darryle Owens and Virginia “Ginger” Heckman were reported to have resigned, though Heckman later texted that she remains active on the board. The controversy has also prompted rival efforts, including recruitment by Mike Pence’s new think tank.
Another Heritage Foundation Board Member Reportedly Resigns After Kevin Roberts’ Defense Of Tucker Carlson
Kevin Roberts, Heritage Foundation
At least one more member of the Heritage Foundation board has reportedly stepped down as the organization continues to reel from internal unrest after President Kevin Roberts publicly defended Tucker Carlson for interviewing far‑right podcaster Nick Fuentes.
Background
In October, Roberts released a video strongly defending Carlson and denouncing what he called a “venomous coalition” targeting the former Fox News host. The statement drew immediate criticism from many conservative figures and provoked intense anger among Heritage staff.
Leaked Meeting And Staff Reactions
Tensions came to a head in early November when a video of an internal staff meeting was leaked to the press. In the footage, employees excoriated Roberts for defending Carlson’s interview with a figure described by some as a “Holocaust‑denying neo‑Nazi.” One staffer called Roberts’ video “a masterclass in cowardice.”
Departures And Recruitment By Rivals
Since the controversy erupted, several senior staffers and board members have left Heritage. Departures reported in recent weeks include Roberts’ former chief of staff Ryan Neuhaus, former Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore, and board members Robert George, Shane McCullar, and Abby Spencer Moffat.
Separately, former Vice President Mike Pence has been reported to recruit up to 15 Heritage employees for his new think tank, Advancing American Freedom — including senior figures such as John Malcolm, Kevin Dayaratna, and Richard Stern.
Latest Reporting And Uncertain Status
On Friday, The Dispatch senior editor Mike Warren tweeted that multiple sources, including a current Heritage employee, had confirmed that two more board members — Darryle Owens and Virginia “Ginger” Heckman — had resigned, bringing the total number of reported board departures to five. Warren later followed up saying Heckman told him via text that she remains “an active member of the Heritage board” and asked that further inquiries be directed to the Foundation. Heritage had not issued a public statement at the time of Warren’s tweets.
Robert George, one of the resigned board members, posted a series of tweets reflecting on the broader problem: the mainstreaming of ideological dogmatists and extremists. He warned of two kinds of “cranks” — attention‑seeking actors and sincere true believers blinded by ideology — and cautioned that the growing tendency to frame politics as a choice between “our cranks” and “their cranks” is dangerous territory.
The Heritage Foundation is now facing both reputational strain and staff attrition as the fallout plays out. The situation remains fluid: some exits have been confirmed publicly, while other reports — including Heckman’s — contain contradictory statements and are awaiting official clarification from the Foundation.
Help us improve.
