Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe says he’s out, blaming board

The founder of right-wing nonprofit Project Veritas says he’s out, blaming the organization’s board.

“So currently, I have no job at Project Veritas,” James O’Keefe said in the video posted on Vimeo. “I have no position here based upon what the board has done. So I’m announcing to you all that today on President’s Day, I’m packing up my personal belongings.”

He was reportedly put on leave from his role as chairman earlier this month following numerous complaints from staff in an internal memo. It detailed behavior called “outright cruel” by staffers who signed it, according to the Daily Beast.

A post on Project Veritas’ website appeared to dispute O’Keefe’s account.

“Even with all of this public fallout, the Board still wants to speak with James. We did not fire him, nor do we want him to resign,” read a statement attributed to the board of directors.

“We would like to continue conversations with James to resolve internal matters rather than litigate them publicly.”

The Associated Press did not immediately receive comment from O’Keefe or others still with Project Veritas.

O’Keefe was put on paid leave about two weeks ago after “a number of our staff members provided leadership with some verbal feedback describing real management concerns regarding the treatment of people and our internal processes,” Project Veritas said in a statement at the time.

The group is known for its sting operations, most notably an attempt to infiltrate the Washington Post in 2017.

O’Keefe established the Mamaroneck, N.Y.-based group 13 years ago. It had about $20 million in revenue in 2021, according to IRS filings.

On Monday, Project Veritas Executive Director Daniel Strack told some staff that O’Keefe had given the board an ultimatum, demanding that he would only stay on if they resigned, the Post reported. Instead, they booted him.

With News Wire Services