James O'Keefe, 26, is an investigative journalist and filmmaker. He is president of Project Veritas, a non-profit organization dedicated to training video muckrakers nationwide. James’ investigations expose corruption and malfeasance in major taxpayer-funded institutions, including ACORN, Planned Parenthood, the U.S. Census Bureau, and elected officials. His most recent expose featured the New Jersey teachers union and was hailed by N.J. Governor Chris Christie as "enlightening and enraging."
James is most well-known for his 2009 ACORN investigation, which exposed systematic corruption in multiple offices, such as the facilitation of child prostitution, human trafficking, and tax evasion. The U.S. House and Senate promptly voted to defund ACORN and the U.S. Census cut ties with the group. The organization was ultimately forced to disband.
In addition to his own reporting, James is committed to empowering the next generation of citizen journalists. From student newspaper editors to bloggers to video producers, enterprising young reporters across the country look to James for inspiration, advice, and encouragement.
He started his own career as a journalist writing for the Daily Targum at his alma mater, Rutgers University, before founding and editing The Rutgers Centurion. There he made a point about political-correctness run amok, successfully leading a campaign to ban Lucky Charms cereal from the school cafeteria because it stereotypes Irish people.

James O'Keefe
Top Union Official Caught on Tape Discussing Voter Fraud
by James O'KeefeIn Project Veritas’s latest video, Wayne Dibofsky, the associate director of the New Jersey Education Association, candidly tells a story about voter fraud in NJ. We did our due diligence to see if the story is tied to poll results. But unfortunately the Hudson County Clerk’s office’s division of elections only keeps records going back five years, the Daily Caller has reported. So the video is circumstantial evidence against a growing suspicion that many states’ voting fraud is institutionalized and rampant.
Could it be possible in the state of New Jersey that the Teachers Union is in on the voting fix? We’ll leave that up to the faithful viewer to decide.
These days, Americans know that in the backrooms people are taking advantage of their power. And they are fed up with it. We are sunlight. All we’re going to do is continue to expose the truth, and then it’s up to democracy to decide the verdict. We put our faith in the American people – when they know the facts.
Our latest project is another example of what we do, something many mainstream reporters may never understand. We get people on camera telling truths that they would never admit to the public or self-identified reporters. And when that public is directly affected and, in many cases, paying for it — as is the case with the New Jersey Teachers Union, and previously with ACORN — it is necessary to expose abuse, and to do so it is often necessary to go undercover. Especially now, when the mainstream media has repeatedly shown its willingness to cover up for unaccountable radical organizations and public institutions that live off the taxpayer’s dime. (more…)
Statement Regarding CNN
by James O'KeefeNow that I’ve had a chance to watch CNN’s “Right on the Edge” documentary, I’m happy to comment. I apologize for not saying anything sooner, but don’t want to comment until I have all the facts at my disposal.
As you can imagine in our line of work, we get lots of leads, ideas, schemes and “punked” style plans sent to us all the time. If you were to roam through my personal emails there are many outrageous plans, some parts of which I may approve of in principal with an “I like it” in an email thread. But I may well object to a host of things about the plan, though I like the objective.
When the CNN idea was pitched to me, I’ll admit that I liked the basic absurdity of meeting Abbie Boudreau on a boat and the idea of counter-seduction satire executed in a tame, humorous, non-threatening manner. After all, as all liberal reporters do, she was trying to “seduce” (a metaphor) me so she could get more for her story. It would be fun, I thought, to turn the tables in jest. However, I was repulsed by the over-the-top language and symbolism that was suggested in the memo that was sent to me, and never considered that for a moment.
In my version, the reporter was never going to be placed in a threatening situation. She would have had to consent before being filmed and she was not going to be faux “seduced” unless she wanted to be. If a CNN reporter would be willing to engage in such a folly, it might even be more newsworthy than Rick Sanchez’s firing. (CNN also has Elliot Spitzer on payroll. He’s done more outrageous things than anything I’ve ever gotten in my in-box). (more…)
Dems Gone Wild: Citizen Assaulted While Filming Oregon Gubernatorial Event
by James O'KeefeOn September 23, 2010, at a speech by Gubernatorial candidate John Kitzhaber, a citizen was violently assaulted.
Approximately 10 minutes into the speech the moderator informs the public not to film. The citizen continues to film, stating it is his First Amendment Right. The camera is smashed into his face. This is clearly seen on the video.
Undercover Census Fraud Investigation – New Jersey
by James O'KeefeOn April 27, 2010, I got a job with the United States Census Bureau in New Jersey. With a hidden camera, I caught four Census supervisors encouraging enumerators to falsify information on their time sheets. Over the course of two days of training, I was paid for four hours of work I never did. I was told to take a 70 minute lunch break, was given an hour of travel time to drive 10 minutes, and was told to leave work at 3:30pm. I resigned prior to doing any data collection but confronted Census supervisors who assured me, “no one is going to be auditing that that level,” and “nobody is going to be questioning it except for you.” Another Census supervisor only said he’d adjust my pay after I gave him a letter recanting my hours.
As to whether this is an “isolated incident” or if there are more Census videos showing more waste, fraud, and corruption, we’ll let you take a wild guess.
America, real journalism has been dead for a long time now. With $1500 Hannah Giles and I were able to break a story that the New York Times couldn’t have broken no matter how many times they mortgaged their building. The government took our camera, so I bought another. The government put us in jail and deleted our tapes, but we got out and we’ll just make more. My travel was restricted to the state of New Jersey, so that’s where I got back to work. The media establishment is busy doing character assassinations on my friends and me but time and truth is on our side. Congress answered to our ACORN videos, now it will be up to the Department of Justice to explain why it edited out of a press release their admission we had no intent to tamper with Senator Landrieu’s phones. More importantly, it will be up to the Census Bureau to explain why their supervisors are systematically falsifying time sheets. (more…)
Statement from James O’Keefe
by James O'KeefeThe government has now confirmed what has always been clear: No one tried to wiretap or bug Senator Landrieu’s office. Nor did we try to cut or shut down her phone lines. Reports to this effect over the past 48 hours are inaccurate and false.
As an investigative journalist, my goal is to expose corruption and lack of concern for citizens by government and other institutions, as I did last year when our investigations revealed the massive corruption and fraud perpetrated by ACORN. For decades, investigative journalists have used a variety of tactics to try to dig out and reveal the truth.
I learned from a number of sources that many of Senator Landrieu’s constituents were having trouble getting through to her office to tell her that they didn’t want her taking millions of federal dollars in exchange for her vote on the healthcare bill. When asked about this, Senator Landrieu’s explanation was that, “Our lines have been jammed for weeks.” I decided to investigate why a representative of the people would be out of touch with her constituents for “weeks” because her phones were broken. In investigating this matter, we decided to visit Senator Landrieu’s district office – the people’s office – to ask the staff if their phones were working. (more…)
The LA Story, Part IV: Program for Torture Victims
by James O'Keefe**Updated with Lavelle Stewart transcript**
Lavelle Stewart, of ACORN in South Central Los Angeles, tells us she thinks we have to hook up with “someone who’s on that international sex business level,” that “14 and 15 year olds been traveling overseas for years,” that she can do independent research for us, and that she has had meetings with Porn magnate Larry Flynt. As for laundering the sex money into my faux political campaign, Lavelle says, “there are ways, people do it all the time. Yeah there are ways, especially out here in California.”
Part I
The LA Story, Part III: ACORN Employee of the Year, Felix D. Harris
by James O'KeefeAlthough Mr. Felix D. Harris of Los Angeles ACORN told us he didn’t care about our prostitution business in regards to a housing loan, he drew the line when we spoke about the underage girls. Although he did not kick us out, he was the only employee in our nationwide ACORN child prostitution investigation who would not assist us.
For his leadership, superior ethics, unwavering integrity, compassion for young women, and for serving as a shining beacon of inspiration for his fellow ACORN employees, I am honored to present Felix Harris, program director at ACORN Housing, with the humble award of ACORN EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR.
Undercover Video: University Political Officials shut down Gulag Memorial
by James O'KeefeTo commemorate the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Berlin Wall, a group of students at Washington University in St. Louis chose to stand up to the tyranny of socialism and bring awareness to its consequences.
The students erected a Soviet gulag on the quad of the University to vividly display the ultimate “solution” to dissidence in socialist societies sparking campus intrigue, discussion, and debate. Although an officer initially arrived on the scene and found everything was peaceful, undercover video reveals smarmy Washington University administrators continuing to press and make excuses to shut the fake-Gulag down.It took the bureaucracy hours to find an obscure policy to use against the students.
The group responsible has plans to make more gulag demonstrations on campuses around the country.
Unsolved Mysteries and Irreconcilable Differences for Mr. Scott Harshbarger
by James O'Keefe(1) Why did the Philadelphia office apparently waste taxpayer money and scarce police resources calling the police about a “verbal disturbance” by two people they were happy to help?
(2) Why would ACORN file a police report after warmly helping us with our purported “prostitution business”?
(3) Why would ACORN make a police complaint about a “verbal disturbance” when there was no disturbance?
(4) Why did ACORN apparently call the police as many as 45 minutes after we left?
(5) Why does ACORN apparently think that making and publishing an after-the-fact police complaint would cover up its willingness to help our “prostitution business” and its lies about what happened when we visited?
(Select “full screen” to view larger version of police report.)
ppd pdf –
ACORN Video: Prostitution Scandal in Philadelphia, PA Part I
by James O'Keefe*UPDATE Below*
Alinsky Rule #1: “Power isn’t only what you have, it’s what the enemy thinks you have.”
Now that ACORN lied to you, Media Matters, what are you going to do?
**UPDATE 2:24 PM EST** We muted the audio of the ACORN employees on the video released today due to ACORN’s legal attack upon us. We call upon ACORN to state publicly now that it has no objection to the public release of any its employees oral statements to us. If they are interested in the truth, why wouldn’t they do so?
Full Transcript: ACORN Prostitution Scandal, San Diego, Part II
by James O'KeefeFull Transcript: ACORN Prostitution Scandal, San Diego, Part I
by James O'KeefeFull Transcript: ACORN Prostitution Scandal, San Bernardino
by James O'KeefeExclusive story here.
Listen to the full unedited audio here:
Part 1:
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ACORN Video: Prostitution Scandal in San Diego, CA
by James O'KeefeWith 70 miles of stunning beaches and picture-perfect weather all year round, having fun during the summer in San Diego doesn’t require a lot of money.
The city combines old-fashioned Mexican charm with a modern edge. In a city where the sun is always shining, it’s the perfect place to get away for a bit of relaxation or stimulation.
If you’re looking for trendy boutique hotels, an exploding culinary scene, or visiting the local ACORN to get your underage prostitutes smuggled across the Mexican border, you’re in the right place.
~~
ACORN Prostitution Scandal: San Bernardino, Continued…
by James O'Keefe**This is a Part III of the ACORN San Bernardino exposé.
Alinsky Rule #8: “Keep the pressure on… with different tactics and actions, and utilize all events of the period for your purpose.”
~
ACORN Prostitution Scandal: California Here We Come!
by James O'Keefe**This is a Part I of the ACORN San Bernardino exposé. Updates to follow…
Alinsky Rule #8: Keep the pressure on. Never let up.
Full Transcript: ACORN Prostitution Investigation, New York, NY
by James O'KeefeExclusive story here.
Listen to the full unedited audio here:
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Exclusive story here.
New York ACORN Transcript –
ACORN Video: Prostitution Scandal in New York, NY
by James O'KeefeThis recent scam, which was attempted in San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia to name a few places, had failed for months before the results we’ve all recently seen.
-Bertha Lewis, Chief Organizer, ACORN
So, we headed up to New York…
 
Alinsky Rule #10, “The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure that results in the reactions from the opposition that are essential for the success of the campaign.”
Bring it on. (more…)
ACORN Video: Prostitution Scandal in Washington, DC
by James O'KeefeExclusive story here.
Listen to the full unedited audio here:
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Washington, DC ACORN Video: Child Prostitution Investigation transcript –
On Why I Don’t Return Phone Calls from an Intrepid CNN Producer
by James O'KeefeAs read on “The Rush Limbaugh Show”:
So far CNN has only reported on the breaking story on blatant ACORN CORRUPTION from angles that attempt to extricate the government funded “community organizing” enterprise from the extreme crime we caught on videotape.
First CNN pushed the false ACORN line that “[t]his film crew tried to pull this sham at other offices and failed.”
To set that record straight please check the Washington D.C. tape we dropped today at BigGovernment.com, which is also being aired on your cable news competitor with curiously higher ratings.
Now that ACORN lied to you, Jonathan Klein, what are you going to do?
Here’s what I have noticed from your coverage: You brought in the damage control crowd to FRAME the story. Before even airing our damning Baltimore video. You know your audience would turn on ACORN if you showed them the evidence. So instead you put your competitors in journalism in the crosshairs instead of airing a blockbuster report making massive waves elsewhere.
You even trotted out shameless Clinton era apologist Joe Conason to challenge the ETHICS of our expose. Unreal.
What about the ethics of those at ACORN caught on tape trying to help create a brothel featuring illegal immigrant age range 13-15 from El Salvador? (more…)






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