Erick Erickson publicly denounced CPAC on X, calling the conference a “clown” amid controversies surrounding its leadership and speaker lineup. He cited multiple allegations against CPAC chair Matt Schlapp — including a settled complaint involving Carlton Huffman — and criticized the invitation to Steve Bannon, referencing Epstein-related documents. Erickson also objected to Todd Chrisley’s booking, noting his conviction and subsequent pardon, and argued these choices have turned CPAC into more of a spectacle than a serious conservative forum.
“Clown” PAC: Erick Erickson Blasts CPAC Over Schlapp Allegations, Bannon Ties and Chrisley Booking
Matt Schlapp
Conservative commentator Erick Erickson took to X on Wednesday to excoriate the Conservative Political Action Conference, declaring that “the ‘C’ in CPAC is now best represented by the word ‘clown.’” Erickson’s critique targeted CPAC leadership and recent speaker choices, saying they undermine the conference’s credibility.
Schlapp Allegations and Settlement. Erickson highlighted repeated accusations against Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union and head of CPAC. He referenced a settled complaint tied to the Herschel Walker Senate campaign, noting that the accuser, Carlton Huffman, later dropped the charges and reportedly received a $480,000 settlement. Erickson argued those allegations are relevant context for Schlapp’s continued leadership of CPAC.
Bannon And The Epstein Documents. Erickson criticized CPAC’s decision to invite Steve Bannon to speak, pointing to documents he says link Bannon to Jeffrey Epstein. Citing a February 2026 release sometimes called the “Epstein Library,” Erickson said a Google Gemini search returned 1,855 results for Bannon’s name and characterized the relationship as one in which Bannon advised on reputation rehabilitation.
Todd Chrisley Booking. Erickson also objected to CPAC’s announcement that reality-TV figure Todd Chrisley would appear at the conference. Chrisley was convicted of tax-related offenses, sentenced to 12 years in prison, and later pardoned by former President Donald Trump — facts Erickson said further contribute to CPAC’s spectacle-like image.
“The ‘C’ in CPAC is now best represented by the word ‘clown’ than as any semblance of a conservative institution,” Erickson wrote, adding in a Substack post that CPAC has “pioneered the grift in the conservative movement.”
Erickson closed with a caustic comparison, likening CPAC to the discredited Comet Ping Pong conspiracy and rhetorically asking whether right-wing media figure Jack Posobiec would attend. His post mixes documented facts, settled claims, and his interpretation of documents cited from the February 2026 DOJ release.
Context and Caveats. Readers should note that some elements referenced by Erickson — including the 1,855 search results for Bannon in the Epstein-related documents and details of the Schlapp settlement — are reported claims and interpretations cited by the commentator. The allegations around Schlapp and the DOJ document release are matters of public record and ongoing public interest.
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