The whistleblowers appear to stand with James OKeefe. If so, and as long as it complies with the other requirements for tax-exempt status, it qualifies as exempt notwithstanding its ideological leanings. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. Project Veritas, whose public face has always been its founder James OKeefe, has been hit with a scandal. This is after they publicly humiliated him. They have discredited and shamed themselves. Is that the same IRS that was systematically preventing conservative organizations from using the 501(c)(3) Not For Profit status? Members of the Project Veritas board either did not return messages or declined to comment on rumors. Privacy Policy and TRUTH! if I worked in a company that I needed to be a whistleblower, I would be going directly to OKeefe.NOT Veritas. They didnt say anything publicly, they didnt even fire him, they forced him to quit. To learn more about the accusations against OKeefe and what the legal consequences might be for the tax-exempt organization, the Conversation asked nonprofit law scholar Samuel Brunson five questions to explain the situation and the issues it raises. A New York Teacher Manipulated Student to Become Trans, Causing Her to Become Walgreens Says It Will Not Dispense Abortion Pills in Several States, Biden's FAA Nominee Can't Answer a Single Question About Aviation, The Part of CNN's Interview With Bill Maher That Trump Supporters Probably Won't Like. He said he had concluded that the board had been planning its actions to remove me from a management position well in advance of its decision to place him on leave in early February. Rot it from the inside, intentionally. 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Betrayal, TikTok Influencers Are Trying to Turn Your Kids Trans Behind Your Back, as This Must-See Expos Shows, Biden's FAA Nominee Can't Answer a Single Question About Aviation, ICYMI, Gisele Fetterman got 'a bit too honest' about her twisted, toxic relationship w/ her husband, The Democrats Have Lost Their Senate Majority for Now, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, James O'Keefe Resigns From Project Veritas in Stunning Move. Those are the questions I have," O'Keefe said. And how about that sandwich James supposedly stole from a pregnant woman? "I'll need a bunch of people around me, and I'll make sure you know how to find me.". 2024 Polls Show DeSantis Cant Easily Knock Out Trump. These included, and you cant make this up, that Project Veritas paid for James OKeefes down payment of his wedding, OKeefe said. They cannot get a better job. As painful as this experience must be for him, it would be hard to imagine a more powerful confirmation of the importance of the work he performed than this letter and the accompanying video from the whistleblowers. Mike Pences 2024 Strategy Totally Depends on Iowa Evangelicals. Trevor Adams ESPN/Disney Insider James hasnt resigned, nor was he fired. Think Mitch McConnell. During that time, Project Veritas has been divided between a group of OKeefe loyalists and a large group of dissenters on the staff and board who chafed at the founders erratic management style, spending, and penchant for costly confrontation with ideological adversaries and his own employees. Exclusive: @JamesOKeefeIII, my friend and former boss at @Project_Veritas, just read his resignation letter to his former team and board members at their Mamaroneck, N.Y. headquarters. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. Public figure. ", "The only way to defeat us is if they take our spirit," O'Keefe declared. Kate Bedingfield, Bidens Translator, Leaves the White House. Project Veritas CEO James O'Keefe starred in a parody of Prince's 1981 song, "Controversy." Judicial discovery will reveal what the issues are If Mr. OKeefe wins his case for slander, then an injunction can be issued against those who have slandered him. In its statement, the board said it wants to work things out with James, and has tried every route possible to remedy the issues at hand, but had a legal obligation to comply with state and federal law that governs spending at nonprofit organizations. Our writers hold no party line; their only allegiance is to clarity of thought, elegance of expression and independence of opinion. Hes started new ventures before, and his strategy is tested and proven. OKeefe was placed on paid leave in early February after what people close to the organization described as a blowup in which he summarily fired a pair of top employees, including the groups chief financial officer. OKeefe, however, appears to have been preparing for his next act. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Biden Chooses Crime Messaging Over D.C. Home Rule. James O'Keefe was born on 11 January 1943 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Fire the board. The old adage goes that there are two sides to every story, and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Sources say there was a series of other dust-ups between OKeefe, leadership and staff over the next couple of days. OKeefe also said he was accused of misusing funds for his wedding but that hes never been married. Samuel Corum/Getty Images. He always had our back. Jamie Reeds shocking account of a clinic mistreating children went viral. Its also after they sent out a letterpleading with donors to keep donating. Its all about not looking soft on crime. Woke Nazis infiltrate org and destroy the truth from within.. Unbelievable chet happening in the USA. Meanwhile, members of OKeefes inner circle over the years scoffed at the notion that he did not understand the boards concerns about his near-constant use of black cars while on company business. We played a small but crucial role in the organization when we were given the opportunity to share our stories, but OKeefes removal from the organization has dealt a devastating blow to future whistleblowers who now may have doubts about the organization and its leadership. And a chatbot is not a human. The ousting of O'Keefe, the organization's founder, has seen a drop in its social-media following. Conservative stunt journalist James OKeefe -of alleged Mary Landrieu wiretapping misunderstanding and ACORN pimp fame-joined forces with another Roughly 300,000 unfollowed Project Veritas, and James OKeefe gained about 300,000 followers. "And then suddenly, an unusual emergency happened just a few days after that," O'Keefe said before outlining his timeline of how things unfolded. Where you go. Copyright Townhall.com/Salem Media. However, the wedding was called off. O'Keefe founded the news outlet in 2011. Im not a whistleblower, although I would be if I had the goods on the deep state globalist cabal, and Ive always stood with James OKeeffe! The money was actually used for the nonprofits Christmas party, he said. For all other types of cookies we need your permission. But, in fact, tax exemption does not represent any type of government approval. The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network. On February 15, the nonprofits executive director, Daniel Strack, posted a conciliatory letter, saying that James has not been removed from Project Veritas and avowing that members of the nonprofits board all love James. Sources familiar with the organizations internal workings said, however, that a battle was raging behind the veneer of civility. Would love your thoughts, please comment. "Journalism is reporting things powerful people want kept hidden for the wrong reasons moral wrongs, bad behaviors as journalists, we're custodians of the public's conscience," O'Keefe said reading from prepared remarks in which he explained he "was stripped of all decision-making last week" and subsequently "stripped" of his "authority as CEO and removed from the board of directors.". The former VP has an extremely narrow path to viability in 2024. Through whats known as the charitable deduction, donors can essentially get a subsidy from the federal government for their donations. James O'Keefe shows a text message from a Veritas board member to one of their journalists bragging about getting a raise if O'Keefe is forced out. Meanwhile, OKeefe was apparently hiking in Santa Monica with the anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who posted a scenic tweet as proof of life. It Sure Doesnt Seem Like Havana Syndrome Is Russias Fault. Some still love and respect OKeefe, but worry that his alleged malfeasance could harm Project Veritass mission, particularly given the organizations focus on rooting out corruption and bad behavior. James OKeefe will carry on, and we will be there with him. The money was actually used for the nonprofits Christmas party, he said. You said alleged then later you said that if the IRS gets involved, it will be bad. This is so good to see. And when youre done, DURABOX products are recyclable for eco-friendly disposal. The Board of Directors of Project Veritas has accused OKeefe of financial misfeasance. Its allegations of financial improprieties by the man who until recently served as the groups chairman include that he spent money donated to the organization on various luxuries for himself, such as charter flights and theater tickets. James assembled this team of over sixty individuals who have bonded together in a common mission to expose waste, fraud, and abuse., We have and always will remain loyal to James vision, our mission, our country, and our supporters#Resilience pic.twitter.com/ldQYtbP7q5, Project Veritas (@Project_Veritas) February 24, 2023. Soul singer Beverley Knight was marrying her fianc James O'Keefe today, telling her fans: "I'm marrying the man of my dreams". Bless the people who are standing with Him May the traitors that did him in be eliminated and realize the damage they did. It could also be Republican operatives. However, multiple individuals with involvement spanning the existence of Project Veritas said that OKeefes imprudent spending on travel extended well beyond donor-related business, including sending limousines and expensive SUVs to pick up friends for lunch meetings, flying out girlfriends on private planes and even convincing employees to purchase gas for his boat so they could brush it off as a travel expense and get reimbursed by the organization. Hes the reason that PV exists, and he will prevail because of the support from the people. Cassandra Spencer Facebook Insider Kent Heckenlively JD, co-author for Cary Poarch, Ryan Hartwig, David Johnson and Zach Vorhies. OKeefe and the Project Veritas board, at the most basic level, couldnt coexist anymore. To learn more about the accusations against OKeefe and what the legal consequences might be for the tax-exempt organization, the Conversation asked nonprofit law scholar Samuel Brunson. If Mr. OKeefe has done no wrong, then why does he not file a civil court petition for slander and get an injunction. James will make his own wayas he always has before. Yes, On 8 September 2012, Knight married James OKeefe. KatieRobbs2022, Have believed in James OKeef from the beginning and will continue. ", Calling the Project Veritas board's actions an "emotional circus," O'Keefe questioned again "why there was a concerted effort to remove me the week of the biggest story we've ever had" and called the situation "extremely difficult. And they knew he wasnt going to corrupt their story and let it get lost in some machinery. She wrote on her Twitter page today: "Luvs, today I marry the man of my dreams. Also, what whistle-blower is now going to trust PV with their information? City to Pay Millions to Protesters Kettled by NYPD in 2020. In somewhat the same manner as many of his legendary narrative-shattering exposs, O'Keefe read resignation remarks on-camera as he explained his side of the fraught situation to some Project Veritas staff in the organization's offices. The organization agreed. With double-lined 2.1mm solid fibreboard construction, you can count on the superior quality and lifespan of all our DURABOX products. They have no supporters left, anyway. I have not listed a Christmas party as a personal wedding expense,. You are confusing yourself as to me and someone else.