James O’Keefe leaves Project Veritas after board dispute
James O’Keeffe, the former CEO of Project Veritas, left the undercover journalism organization he founded on Monday.
Neil McCabe of One America News Network (OANN), a Project Veritas alumnus, reported that O’Keefe had left the undercover reporting agency:
Exclusive: @JamesOKeefeIIImy friend and former boss in @Project_Veritas, just read his resignation letter to his former team and board members at their headquarters in Mamaroneck, New York. James will make his own way, like he always did before. @JANN pic.twitter.com/knOqtFTw7e
— ReporterMcCabe (@NeilWMcCabe2) February 20, 2023
R.C. Maxwell, a spokesperson for Project Veritas, later tweeted challenging the accuracy of McCabe’s report that O’Keeffe was “removed as CEO by Project Veritas’ board of directors”:
This is not accurate.
James was removed from his position as CEO by the Project Veritas board of directors.
They are now at the helm
— R.S. Maxwell (@BlackHannity) February 20, 2023
James, who is late to everything due to his busy schedule, came to my wedding EARLY.
I will always ride with my dog #ISStandWithJamesOkeefe pic.twitter.com/TYxtHZgQGg
— R.S. Maxwell (@BlackHannity) February 20, 2023
Earlier in February, O’Keeffe was placed on paid leave during an investigation by the organization’s board of his management decisions.
The Board’s review that O’Keefe continued to be the head of Project Veritas followed the drafting of a memorandum written by approximately 16 Project Veritas employees accusing O’Keefe of abusive behavior towards them:
O’Keeffe was placed on leave as a memo was leaked that employees had complained and raised concerns about his behavior.
The memo claimed that his employees were “worried and frustrated” with his management style and that he would be “blatantly violent” towards his employees.
They further alleged that O’Keeffe berates and “publicly crucifies” employees.
Several Project Veritas benefactors sent a letter demanding that he cease and desist from serving on the organization’s board following O’Keeffe’s placement on paid leave. They described O’Keeffe’s removal as a violation of Project Veritas’ fiduciary obligations to use the funds raised for the organization’s stated purposes, highlighting the organization’s focus on O’Keeffe in their fundraising requests:
EXCLUSIVE: I received a cease and desist letter sent to @Project_Veritas The board of directors of a law firm representing a large group of major PV donors.
RT!!! pic.twitter.com/PHo9vGvYt7
— Swig (@OldRowSwig) February 10, 2023
The Post Millennial report on O’Keefe’s departure from Project Veritas notes that some conservative commentators have presented O’Keefe as indispensable to the organization:
After 16 employees sent a letter to the Project Veritas board of directors in early February, “James O’Keeffe IS Project Veritas” went viral on Twitter. Many supporters and donors disagreed with the idea that Veritas could continue without O’Keefe at the helm, and prominent conservatives supported O’Keefe.
Last week, Project Veritas CEO Daniel Strack issued a public statement to the board of directors regarding recent internal matters at the organization regarding O’Keeffe’s status:
— Project Veritas (@Project_Veritas) February 15, 2023
Project Veritas also shared a photo of O’Keefe with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. via their Twitter account hours after Strak’s statement to the Project Veritas board of directors was released:
Certainly @JamesOKeefeIII alive and well. Why not?
We are sure that many of you will agree that there is nothing better than enjoying a well-deserved rest.
— Project Veritas (@Project_Veritas) February 15, 2023
O’Keeffe’s departure from the organization has not been posted on the Project Veritas website at the time of this article’s publication.
Follow Robert Krajczyk on Twitter @rkraychik.
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