In a significant development, conservative activist group Project Veritas has reportedly let go of a majority of its employees following the departure of founder and former leader, James O’Keefe. This major restructuring comes in the wake of allegations of workplace abuse and financial malfeasance that led to O’Keefe’s ouster.
O’Keefe, known for his undercover-camera operations aimed at exposing perceived bias in media organizations, was forced out by the board earlier this year amidst accusations of abusive treatment towards staff members. Following his removal, several former employees have come forward with allegations of an oppressive work environment under O’Keefe’s leadership.
Project Veritas, initially founded by O’Keefe in his father’s garage, quickly gained notoriety for its controversial sting operations. The organization has been a significant player in the conservative movement, often making headlines for its expose-style videos.
However, recent events have cast a shadow over the organization’s future. The board’s decision to remove O’Keefe was a significant shift, given his status as the face of Project Veritas. His departure marked a turning point, initiating a period of uncertainty and change for the group.
Following his exit, Project Veritas appointed Hannah Giles to fill his role. Giles, famous for starring in O’Keefe’s landmark ACORN video, has spent her time at the company rehashing old feuds between her and O’Keefe, according to The Post Millennial, which quoted sources claiming Giles has also failed to bring donors to the nonprofit group.
In the aftermath of O’Keefe’s exit, Project Veritas is now undergoing a major restructuring. Most of its staff have reportedly been let go, signaling a potential overhaul of its operations. It has been asserted that only a small number of undercover reporters remain, though those responsible for fundraising have kept their jobs.
The Post Millennial claim only 18 employees remain at Project Veritas.
The official Project Veritas account on X, formerly Twitter, briefly tweeted “SOS Hannah Giles just fired us all” last night. The tweet was almost immediately deleted, but it was shared by influencer Jack Posobiec, who claimed a source told him that “all of production, all of field ops, all of comms, all of legal” were fired. The source reportedly added that “Only remaining are office admin, HR person, a couple development people & IT.”
I'm told almost all of Project Veritas was just laid off and this is legit
"All of production, all of field ops, all of comms, all of legal. Only remaining are office admin, HR person, a couple development people & IT" pic.twitter.com/X65CQBgK7A
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) August 17, 2023
Furthermore, adding to the organization’s troubles, Project Veritas has recently filed a lawsuit against O’Keefe. The lawsuit alleges a breach of contract on O’Keefe’s part, further complicating the fallout from his departure.
In conclusion, the shakeup at Project Veritas following James O’Keefe’s departure is a significant development in the conservative activism sphere. As the organization grapples with allegations of workplace abuse, financial malfeasance, and a major restructuring, its future direction remains uncertain.
O’Keefe, meanwhile, has posted a number of videos already captured by his new O’Keefe Media Group.
