NEW YORK — The founder of Project Veritas, a conservative nonprofit recognized for its hidden digital camera stings, is under investigation via a suburban New York prosecutor’s administrative center in the newest fallout after his ouster from the gang over allegations that he mistreated staff and misspent group budget.
The Westchester County district lawyer’s administrative center showed Friday it is “looking into” issues regarding James O’Keefe, who used to be suspended in February and later fired as chairman and CEO. The Project Veritas board stated he spent “an excessive amount of donor funds” on non-public luxuries.
Jin Whang, a spokesperson for District Attorney Mimi Rocah, declined to talk about the topic or main points of the investigation, or what possible fees, if any, O’Keefe may just face. Whang cautioned that investigations may have a wide range of results, no longer essentially ensuing in felony fees.
News of the probe used to be first reported via The Nation.
O’Keefe’s attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, blamed the investigation on “disgruntled former employees of Project Veritas who had a problem with their CEO using too many car services to pay for fundraising efforts which paid their salaries.”
“We were told by the new Project Veritas CEO that the investigation had ended,” Lichtman stated. “If it’s not, we will crush it in court.”
In a observation, CEO Hannah Giles stated, “Project Veritas did not initiate any potential investigation the Westchester DA’s office may be conducting with respect to James O’Keefe. However, PV cooperates with the authorities as required by law.”
In 2010, O’Keefe founded Project Veritas, which identifies itself as a news organization. Its most recent IRS filings show it brought in more than $20 million in revenue in 2021. Over the years its hidden-cameras have embarrassed news outlets, labor organizations and Democratic politicians.
The organization sued O’Keefe in May, accusing him of breaching his contract with “incredibly troubling workplace and financial misconduct,” including screaming at colleagues, exposing employees to obscene messages and having staffers run errands for him, such as picking up laundry and cleaning his boat.
Among O’Keefe’s lavish spending, the organization alleges, were: $10,000 for a helicopter flight from New York to Maine; more than $150,000 on private car services over an 18-month span; and expensive stays in luxury hotel suites while other employees were forced to stay in budget accommodations.
According to the lawsuit, Project Veritas’ board had intended to reinstate O’Keefe from his suspension “with appropriate safeguards,” but ultimately terminated his employment in May after he claimed in media interviews that the organization had fired him to appease a pharmaceutical company over its reporting on COVID-19.
Last year, two Florida residents pleaded guilty to selling a diary and other items from President Joe Biden’s daughter to Project Veritas for $40,000. As part of its investigation, the FBI searched the group’s Mamaroneck, New York, offices, and the homes of some employees in 2021.
Neither Project Veritas nor any staffers were charged with against the law, and the gang has stated its actions had been safe via the First Amendment.
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