Ian Patrick, FISM News
[elfsight_social_share_buttons id=”1″]
James O’Keefe, the founder and face of the undercover investigative reporting organization Project Veritas, has been placed on paid leave by the nonprofit’s board of directors. This news is coming from a report in the Intelligencer from New York Magazine.
An internal message sent from Veritas Executive Director Daniel Strack reportedly said that James would be taking “a few weeks of well-deserved PTO.” No further details were given on O’Keefe’s absence from the organization, and the Veritas founder himself has not issued any comments.
As reports on the matter surfaced, Project Veritas released a statement to Twitter as a response. In this statement, the organization says the board is “constantly evaluating what the best path forward is for the organization.”
Project Veritas’ Official Response to Today’s News Reports
Despite what the Corporate Media tries to portray about our organization, know this: We have never been more motivated and dedicated to our mission than now. pic.twitter.com/sB7Cz97b5M
— Project Veritas (@Project_Veritas) February 9, 2023
Despite being a response to such reports as the one in the Intelligencer, there was no specific mention of O’Keefe’s fate from Veritas.
Some of the turmoil surrounding O’Keefe revolves around the Ashley Biden diary drama, as well as other so-called “distractions” according to Strack.
FISM News previously reported on the diary which was purchased by Project Veritas from two individuals. Despite certainty that the diary was indeed real, O’Keefe did not feel comfortable pressing forward with a report on the book “because it could not confirm the diary was Biden‘s, and instead arranged for the diary to be sent to Florida law enforcement.”
Other problems stem from employee descriptions of O’Keefe “as an erratic and often angry boss,” according to the Intelligencer. An alleged altercation with former Veritas CFO Tom O’Hara and chief strategy officer Barry Hinckley ended with O’Keefe “berating” and firing the two.
The Project Veritas board will reportedly meet on Friday, with expectations that O’Keefe will be among the topics of discussion. As the face of Veritas, some are worried that O’Keefe’s absence could mean the end of the investigative reporting organization as a whole.