Will Wilkerson: Ex-Trump exec who provided feds with 150K docs on Trump Social is now a Starbucks barista
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA: Will Wilkerson, 38, a former executive who served as vice president of operations for the Trump Media and Technology Group and oversaw the development of Truth Social, is currently employed at Starbucks in North Carolina as a barista trainer for a wage of $16 per hour. Donald Trump sacked him six months ago after he provided the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as federal and state authorities, with 150,000 internal papers, contracts, and emails.
Wilkerson had the opportunity to become a millionaire due to his high-paying position with the disgraced former US president and stock options, but he chose to disassociate himself from the Truth Social platform because he was worried that the platform's investors may lose their money.
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Who is Will Wilkerson?
Will Wilkerson was fired from his position as executive vice president of Trump's Truth Social six months ago after giving federal and state authorities access to 150,000 emails and internal papers. Wilkerson has now discovered a new professional path as a federally protected whistleblower: a Starbucks certified barista trainer in North Carolina.
Why was he fired?
He accused the Trump Media and Technology Group of breaking securities laws after getting in touch with detectives in New York and Florida, exposing irregularities in the business' spending that could endanger shareholders. Wilkerson is currently a protected whistleblower under federal law. An email discussion between Wilkerson and fellow co-founder Andy Litinsky, who was allegedly fired as retaliation for refusing to give some of his shares to former first lady Melania Trump, is among the documents provided to investigators, according to The Washington Post. Litinsky's shares are reportedly worth millions of dollars.
He had 'concocted psychodramas'
Trump had previously received 90% of the company's shares in return for the use of his name and a small amount of participation. Wilkerson was fired, and the business gave the excuse that he had "concocted psychodramas." Earlier this month, Devin Nunes, a former Republican congressman, filed a defamation lawsuit against Wilkerson in a Florida court. Nunes argues that as a result of Wilkerson's remarks, he experienced "anxiety," "insecurity," "mental anguish," and "emotional distress."
How did he find the new path?
Wilkerson currently works the 5:30 a.m. shift at a Harris Teeter grocery store in North Carolina. "It’s an honest day’s work," he told The Washington Post. "I love what I do." In the wake of his association with Truth Social, Wilkerson told The Post that he looked for hundreds of jobs, but that he thought the fuss around the situation had scared off potential employers. After submitting his resume, which included prior barista experience from his 20s, Wilkerson received a call back from Starbucks the next day. Nonetheless, the Post referred to Wilkerson as "one of the biggest threats to the future of the Trump company."
'I just want to do what's right'
Despite the opportunity for financial gain he had while working for Trump, Wilkerson claimed he is more concerned on upholding morality. "I made the conscious decision. I knew the risks ... especially in regards to retaliation. But I don't think I could have sat back and stayed quiet, even if I was compensated handsomely for doing so. I'm here and I'm not going away" he said. Wilkerson added, "Ultimately, you know, I just want to do what's right."