Every development that arises from the Project Veritas drama makes it even more clear that the organization’s decision to oust former CEO James O’Keefe was about as smart as letting your kid hang out with Hunter Biden.
The fallout against the board of directors has been severe, with the company losing hundreds of thousands of followers on social media and donors fleeing faster than President Joe Biden from the U.S. when the train derailment occurred in East Palestine, Ohio.
After O’Keefe left Project Veritas, its board issued a series of accusations against him. They alleged that he had engaged in everything from misusing funds to being a jerk to employees. But so far, none of their statements against him have stuck – at least not in the minds of conservatives and libertarians who lauded his work exposing some pretty malevolent agendas.
Now, some of the whistleblowers who previously worked with Project Veritas are also speaking out – and they are defending O’Keefe. The Post Millennial reported: “On Friday, a group of whistleblowers who worked with Project Veritas over the years released a video on social media in support of recently ousted company founder James O’Keefe.”
Zach Vorhies, who exposed Google’s effort to influence the 2020 election, posted a video on Twitter featuring more than a dozen whistleblowers saying “I stand with James O’Keefe.”
From The Post Millennial:
The group of O’Keefe supporters served as whistleblowers from organizations such as CBS, CNN, Facebook, Google, United Healthcare, ESPN, the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Homeland Security.
We, the Whistleblowers of Project Veritas stand with James O'Keefe.
Retweet, if you #StandWithJames. pic.twitter.com/BCvRftLMkc
— Zach Vorhies / Google Whistleblower (@Perpetualmaniac) February 24, 2023
But it gets even worse.
Apparently, Project Veritas is sending out emails to donors begging them to continue forking over their hard-earned cash. That’s right. The organization’s board has been relegated to groveling for funding since they ousted O’Keefe.
“We hope that you might continue to give us a chance,” the organization said in an email to donors. “We can’t stress how separate the board’s role is from daily operations here at PV. We are still grinding and pursuing stories of great public importance.”
The message was sent by Bethany Rolando, who was one of 16 employees who signed the letter sent to the board reporting grievances against the former CEO .
“We understand and share your frustrations,” the email reads. “We all love and respect James and hope he returns. This is difficult for everyone.”
The message also explains that “an independent two-dimensional audit is being arranged” to ascertain whether financial misdeeds were committed by O’Keefe.
One of these matters includes “Breaking the Bylaws of the organization by unilaterally dismissing the CFO and co-opting another board member’s vote by saying that board member supported the dismissal.” The second board member said they did not approve the decision.
In the email, Project Veritas discusses allegations that O’Keefe misused donor funds for personal use and that he mistreated the organization’s employees.
“The board included this in its statement what it is aware of so far which clearly warrants this internal audit to ensure your hard-earned, and graciously donated, money is utilized appropriately,” according to the email, which also notes that the group hopes “to know more details around this soon.”
Anyone can see that the board is desperate. The begging donors for cash coming as whistleblowers are propping up O’Keefe are further indicators that the board made the wrong decision. Unless it can produce compelling evidence that the former CEO was not above board with his handling of the company’s finances or that he was truly abusive toward his employees, this whole situation is not going to turn out well for them. This could be the beginning of the demise of the organization.
