(UnitedVoice.com) – Conservative James O’Keefe founded Project Veritas in 2010. The group describes itself as a media organization that uses undercover videos to allegedly expose people they believe are corrupt. Activists who work for the organization have targeted The Washington Post, Google, Hillary Clinton, Planned Parenthood, and others.
In recent years the organization has faced numerous lawsuits. Recently, the board of directors expressed dissatisfaction with the way O’Keefe was chairing Project Veritas. Now the founder is out.
O’Keefe’s Departure
On Monday, February 20, O’Keefe announced the Project Veritas Board stripped him of his position as its chairman and CEO. He spoke to the staff before leaving. He told them that in the 13 years since he founded the group, its mission statement has evolved from “exposing the truth” to also “giving people hope.” He went on to recap his time and rail against the board. Finally, he thanked those who worked for him.
Since it’s already out there, here are my heartfelt remarks to my staff this morning.
I need to make clear I have not resigned from the company, Project Veritas, I founded 13 years ago. I was stripped of my position as CEO and Chairman.
I came to the PV pic.twitter.com/NwHivwR1EM… https://t.co/X1lKCnwuif
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) February 21, 2023
R.C. Maxwell, a member of the board, disputed a narrative from One America News Network reporter Neil McCabe that O’Keefe resigned. He informed the public that the Project Veritas founder was “removed from his position” by board members, and they are now in charge.
This is not accurate.
James was removed from his position as CEO by the Project Veritas board.
They are in charge now https://t.co/cJ1oNUkBPd
— R.C. Maxwell 🇺🇸 (@BlackHannity) February 20, 2023
According to The Washington Post, the organization’s executive director, Daniel Strack, spoke to some members of the staff on Monday and told them that O’Keefe demanded all of the board members resign. The founder reportedly made it a condition for him to stay. Instead, the board removed him.
Allegations Against O’Keefe
The founder’s departure from the group comes after some turmoil. O’Keefe was on leave at the time of the decision to strip him of his position because of allegations he’d treated staff poorly.
NPR reported the board of directors released a statement claiming an investigation uncovered “financial malfeasance” and alleged that O’Keefe spent “an excessive amount of donor funds in the last three years on personal luxuries.” That included over $150,000 “in Black Cars in the last 18 months” and “$14,000 on a charter flight to meet someone to fix his boat under the guise of meeting with a donor.”
The Washington Post also reported there was concern among board members that O’Keefe was going to cost Project Veritas its nonprofit status. It’s currently registered under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The status means the group cannot operate for the benefit of private interests or engage in politics.
The board has not commented on those allegations.
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