THE TRUTH INSIDE VERITAS — Part 1

[00:00:11] When did you switch from not wanting to [00:00:13] cause harm to James to wanting to harm [00:00:16] James? [00:00:16] >> Objection. [00:00:18] >> After James started claiming he was [00:00:22] fired [00:00:23] and kicked out of his organization, [00:00:27] which he wasn't. [00:00:36] I'll tell you a story which I believe to [00:00:38] be true. [00:00:40] [music] [00:00:48] [music] [00:00:52] I've [00:00:52] >> been stripped of my authority as CEO and [00:00:55] removed from the board of directors. [00:00:57] How does the company go on without the [00:01:00] man [music] [00:01:01] who built it? [00:01:02] >> I'm telling you, if a board statement [00:01:03] goes out the way that they're thinking [00:01:05] about doing it, it's [ __ ] over. It's [00:01:07] over. [00:01:08] >> I'm adamant that I'm only going to stick [00:01:10] to the facts. But don't you know that so [00:01:12] many people want to go beyond the facts. [00:01:14] >> They want me gone, but they wanted me to [00:01:16] give them money and my startup. [00:01:18] >> Fortunately, I have recordings and [00:01:20] documents to back up everything I'm [00:01:22] about to tell. [00:01:22] >> We're about to paint. James O'Keefe has [00:01:24] a criminal. It better be [ __ ] good. [00:01:27] >> And if you think all this is bad, this [00:01:31] is just part one. [00:01:34] >> Excuse me. [00:01:34] >> Can you raise your right hand for me? [00:01:35] >> Yes, I can. [00:01:36] >> Do you swear a testimony you're about to [00:01:37] give would be the truth, the whole [00:01:38] truth, [music] and nothing but the [00:01:39] truth? [00:01:40] >> Yes. [00:01:40] >> Am I correct that this is your Twitter [00:01:42] handle, right? [00:01:44] [music] [00:01:48] >> Yes. There was a general feeling that we [00:01:50] have a problem with James. [music] He [00:01:52] needs to change and preserve and and and [00:01:54] grow project veritas. [00:01:56] >> Nonprofit boards of directors can be [00:01:59] very very dangerous if they are not [00:02:02] carefully selected and groomed to serve [00:02:07] at the will of the leader for that [00:02:10] organization. [00:02:11] >> Joining the board of Project Veritas was [00:02:16] >> this man hired me from the company that [00:02:18] I founded. I did not [00:02:19] >> hire you, James. You have no idea how [00:02:22] much [00:02:22] >> I think it's tragic that you that you [00:02:25] decided to kill your own creation. [00:02:27] >> Doesn't matter what you think, [music] [00:02:28] James. Just be a good boy. Do what [00:02:31] you're told. [00:02:32] >> James [music] uh since February 6th was [00:02:36] uh bent on destroying the organization [00:02:38] and [music] he has been ever. [00:02:41] >> [ __ ] this [ __ ] guy. I'll [ __ ] on him [00:02:43] for another few hours if we want. [00:02:45] >> Hey, James. I shouldn't have trusted [00:02:47] these guys, but [music] I did trust [00:02:49] these guys. People like to say, "Well, [00:02:51] but aren't these your people? Weren't [00:02:53] these your friends?" Well, evidently [00:02:55] not. [00:02:55] >> These are people who I had a lot of [00:02:57] respect for. You know, I I I've done [00:02:59] work retreats with these people. I've [00:03:02] met their wives. And these are people [00:03:03] that we thought were were were people [00:03:06] with integrity. [00:03:07] >> Are you really that shocked that [music] [00:03:09] people that I trusted betrayed me? I [00:03:12] mean, that's what people that's what [00:03:14] human beings do when they're put under [00:03:15] pressure or they're put through a [00:03:16] high-powered lens. [00:03:20] >> Consider the news that did not break [00:03:22] today. The protransparency news [00:03:24] organization, Project Veraritoss, just [00:03:26] released an undercover video of a Fizer [00:03:28] executive door. [00:03:30] >> Unlock the door. Unlock the door. [00:03:32] >> Hey there. Fiser story was the biggest [00:03:34] story we ever did. [00:03:35] >> Project Veritas, yes, had a global [00:03:37] reputation. [00:03:38] >> Are youing kidding me right now? [00:03:39] >> I'm not kidding you. You are. By 2023, [00:03:42] you had some really bombshell stories. [00:03:45] We were really at our height. [00:03:46] >> Fizer was blowing up. [00:03:48] >> His defenses [00:03:50] hundreds of millions of times. [00:03:51] >> It was like a date on Tinder or [00:03:53] something. [00:03:54] >> It was like one of those projects James [00:03:56] O'Keefe things. [00:03:57] >> Did you not see it? [00:03:58] >> I'm sure I did. [00:03:59] >> Bragging on camera about how his company [00:04:02] can manipulating co viruses [music] for [00:04:04] profit. [00:04:04] >> People couldn't even believe that it was [00:04:06] real. And it was still, I would say, at [00:04:07] the at the zenith, at the apex, [music] [00:04:09] at the climax of everything. [00:04:14] [screaming] [00:04:27] replay. [00:04:27] >> That was that was a that was us [00:04:29] celebrating after we got that Jordan [00:04:32] Walker score in Fizer and then [00:04:35] one week later my board turned on me. It [00:04:40] doesn't look like an environment a [00:04:41] hostile work environment. It looks like [00:04:42] a special place. [00:04:45] week later everything changed. I mean [00:04:46] the only thing that changed in my life [00:04:50] was that story. [00:04:53] So what did the board think people were [00:04:54] going to assume? [00:04:57] Did the board not think that people were [00:04:59] going to assume the worst? [00:05:02] It was the timing of it that was so [00:05:03] suspicious. [00:05:04] >> You say pay us back what you owe first [00:05:07] and then we can start talking [music] [00:05:08] about it. I'm interested to know how [00:05:11] much James O'Keefe owes you. Oh, [00:05:14] $785,00023. [00:05:17] >> How did you arrive at that figure? [00:05:18] >> With a very very complicated [music] [00:05:20] algorithm I cannot reveal because it's [00:05:22] uh confidential [00:05:23] >> and it's based on the employment [00:05:25] agreement. [00:05:26] >> Absolutely. [00:05:26] >> And how many violations did you [00:05:28] identify? [00:05:29] >> 27. [00:05:30] >> 27 violations of the employment [00:05:32] agreement [00:05:33] >> and that led you to what figure? [00:05:36] >> I just told you. I'm not repeating my [00:05:38] answer. [00:05:39] Is that analysis in your documents you [00:05:42] provided today? Is it done in your head? [00:05:45] >> Uh, partially. [00:05:46] >> Where else? [00:05:47] >> Well, I'm allow I'm not allowed to [00:05:50] disclose that. [00:05:50] >> I mean, these people were just [00:05:52] impeaching all of their credibility. [00:05:54] [music] If and when this goes to trial, [00:05:56] they're going to lose because it's going [00:05:57] to go in front of a jury and the jury is [00:05:59] going to say, "These people are total [00:06:00] liars." [00:06:01] >> Did you ever see anything that that [00:06:03] crossed the line into so-called [00:06:04] financial misconduct? [00:06:06] >> Objection. [00:06:09] I don't exactly know what you mean by [00:06:11] misconduct. [00:06:12] >> Well, [music] it's it's the terminology [00:06:14] used in the complaint. [00:06:16] The board also learned of O'Keefe's [00:06:18] alleged financial misconduct. So, I'm [00:06:21] asking you as a board member [00:06:23] specifically, what in your mind crossed [00:06:27] the line into financial misconduct? [00:06:29] [music] [00:06:32] The one clear [00:06:33] >> objection [00:06:34] you can answer [00:06:37] >> incident of financial misconduct [00:06:41] which covers a lot of areas is [music] [00:06:44] his unauthorized firing of the CFO. [00:06:47] >> Veritoss had to raise $24 million a year [00:06:50] just to [music] exist. That's payroll, [00:06:52] $5 million in legal, travel costs for [00:06:54] all the undercover journalists. I mean, [00:06:56] we were spending a lot of money, [00:06:57] rightfully [music] so, to give these [00:06:59] journalists the luxury of staying in [00:07:01] hotel rooms all the time. We're talking [00:07:03] big money. [music] And the only way [00:07:04] you're going to get that money is to ask [00:07:05] for it. The donor department was not [00:07:08] performing well. [00:07:10] And that was a main catalyst for a lot [00:07:12] of the personalities in the donor [00:07:14] department hating James. [music] That [00:07:15] was a catalyst for Barry being fired. [00:07:18] >> Brought on this guy, Barry Hinckley. He [00:07:20] wasn't willing to follow my lead. [00:07:23] Barry Hinckley managed to convince [00:07:24] [music] his colleagues that there's a [00:07:26] different way to go about this than [00:07:28] James O'Keeffe is raising money. We need [00:07:29] to take it easy. Of course, [music] [00:07:32] where is the $2 million a month going to [00:07:34] come from? It was a blowup because they [00:07:37] were telling me in front of the team, I [00:07:40] will not do that. So, I told them, [00:07:43] "Okay, you're fired." But for some [00:07:45] reason, and I I can't necessarily put my [00:07:48] finger on it, some people just acted [00:07:51] like this was beyond the pale. [00:07:54] >> And I I was in a predicament because I [00:07:57] should not have said to him in front of [00:07:59] other people, there's the door. [00:08:02] >> I was told over and over again that [00:08:03] people beneath me are supposed to follow [00:08:05] my lead no matter what. And I [snorts] [00:08:07] told And said, you know, I consider your [00:08:09] man's entire victorial. I I'll say there [00:08:11] were multiple times, you know, when I [00:08:13] was at PV where after speaking with [00:08:16] James or after messaging with James, I [00:08:18] would have to take a deep breath and [00:08:20] walk around the building. I think [00:08:21] everybody understood like we're a small [00:08:23] company with like an outsized impact. [00:08:25] You know, we're making national [00:08:27] headlines, you know, every other week. I [00:08:29] mean, you're going to be It is a [00:08:31] fast-paced company. It's going to have [00:08:33] to be that way. [00:08:33] >> But what was starting to happen was [00:08:35] people [music] were kind of forming, for [00:08:37] lack of a better word, a union. They [00:08:38] were kind of going on strike [00:08:40] >> and [music] I told James, "I can't [00:08:42] follow your lead." [00:08:45] >> When I boarded the airplane to fly to [00:08:46] Nashville to do a follow-up on the Fiser [00:08:49] story, [music] I get this email from Tom [00:08:51] O'Hara at 3:36 p.m. as they're closing [00:08:55] the doors of the airplane. And in this [00:08:58] email, it says that [music] we're going [00:09:00] to dissolve our one of our nonprofits, [00:09:02] Project Veritas Action, combine the [00:09:04] boards, motion to revise the reporting [00:09:07] structure of Project Veritas with new [00:09:09] structure and termination of employees. [00:09:12] And by termination [music] of employees, [00:09:15] Tom O'Hara was referencing getting rid [00:09:17] of the CEO, James [music] O'Keefe. And [00:09:20] there's an emergency board meeting as [00:09:23] soon as possible, which [music] would be [00:09:25] that evening. I think the meeting was [00:09:26] going to be scheduled for quite [00:09:28] literally when I touched down and I was [00:09:31] able to make a flurry of phone calls as [00:09:34] the plane was like taking off. [00:09:36] >> My first question on the phone to this [00:09:37] guy, my colleague, [00:09:40] as I was staring at this [music] agenda [00:09:42] when the stewardist was asking me to get [00:09:44] off the phone was quote, "What are we [00:09:47] going to tell our [music] supporters if [00:09:49] I'm removed from my position?" My [00:09:51] colleague responded by saying, "Our [00:09:53] supporters wouldn't have to find out." [00:09:54] He said to me over the phone, you know, [00:09:56] Veraritoss would be better without you [00:09:59] as CEO. There was no discussion with me [00:10:01] about this. It was [music] a it was a [00:10:03] setup. [00:10:06] It was like the Twilight Zone. I mean, I [00:10:08] had just fired Barry Hinckley for being [00:10:10] insubordinate. I had just fired Tom [00:10:12] O'Hara because he was about to remove me [00:10:14] as CEO of the company. And it it felt [00:10:17] like the world was crashing down on me. [00:10:19] It it felt like the walls were closing [00:10:21] in. My people were just rebelling. They [00:10:24] were mutining. My producer, Pam Brown, [00:10:26] wouldn't even look me in the eye. She [00:10:27] was on the phone with Dan Stra the [00:10:28] entire time. Every time there was an [00:10:31] update, she wouldn't wouldn't talk to [00:10:33] me. She talked to Dan Strap. [00:10:34] >> I don't think people understand how big [00:10:38] of a deal that is. Particularly firing [00:10:40] Tom with no authority. Like that's it's [00:10:43] a big deal. It's a big deal. Like it [00:10:45] like like what should happen in any [00:10:48] other organization is he would be [00:10:49] immediately removed from the board. [00:10:51] Immediately. O'Keefe had no authority to [00:10:53] fire O'Hara. [00:10:56] >> Well, let's be clear. The CEO of Project [00:10:59] Veritas certainly has as one of his [00:11:02] direct reports the chief financial [00:11:03] officer. [music] [00:11:04] >> Objection. [00:11:05] >> Where was it written that the chief [00:11:08] financial officer within project veritas [00:11:11] was not to report to the chief executive [00:11:13] officer? [00:11:14] >> I have no idea. [00:11:16] >> Wasn't written anywhere, was it? [00:11:17] >> I don't know. Objective. They were [00:11:19] rebelling against my firing Tom O'Hara, [00:11:22] the CFO. [00:11:23] >> Um, I believe that the Tom's direct [00:11:28] report was the board. [00:11:29] >> I understand that's your belief. Where [00:11:31] was this written? [00:11:32] >> I have no idea. [00:11:33] >> Now, they said I didn't have the [00:11:34] authority to do that, but according to [00:11:35] Stefan Pantino, their own 50C3 IRS [00:11:38] compliance lawyer told Matt Tmont they [00:11:40] were wrong. I did in fact have the [00:11:43] authority to fire Tom. [00:11:46] So I I I was one of the last people to [00:11:48] find out even that there was animosity [00:11:52] that employees were starting to bundle [00:11:54] up and talk [00:11:55] and the board members were apparently [00:11:57] involved in this and actually the [00:11:58] driving force of this and eventually I [00:12:00] see someone or I paying someone's like [00:12:02] hey I'll come down like I'll talk to [00:12:04] you. He was telling me we're all mad [00:12:06] about this and I was like it's it's [00:12:07] [music] not a big deal. I was like these [00:12:09] people that are getting fired by James [00:12:10] there's nothing that can happen. And [00:12:12] then he was like, "No, the board [music] [00:12:13] is is on our side with this." [00:12:17] >> Did you meet with James O'Keefe at your [00:12:19] house the day before the meeting? [00:12:22] >> I think I did. I do recall trying to [00:12:25] prep him for the meeting. I wanted him [00:12:28] to have a vigorous [00:12:30] counterargument. I wanted him to defend [00:12:33] himself. I wanted him to survive the [00:12:37] onslaught. I mean, I was trying not to [00:12:39] be [music] removed as CEO. And the first [00:12:40] thing Skakel when he sat down with me, [00:12:43] he he said, "Are you recording me?" And [00:12:46] I thought to myself, "No, I'm not, but [00:12:48] maybe I should be [00:12:50] because this is crazy." [00:12:53] And I asked him, "Who's who's putting [00:12:55] this bug in your ear?" And he said, [00:12:56] "Mack to your mind." He's very [00:12:58] persuasive. [00:12:59] >> Matt's very smart. He's very, very high [00:13:02] IQ guy. He's also persuasive. In your [00:13:05] answer a moment ago, you you mentioned [00:13:07] financial malfeasants, but you and I [00:13:08] have been over this this morning, [00:13:10] >> right? [00:13:10] >> In your view, there was no financial [00:13:12] malfeasance. [00:13:13] >> Objection. [00:13:14] >> That's miser. [00:13:15] >> That's my opinion. [00:13:17] >> But others whose opinion I respect a [00:13:20] lot, that would be Dan Track, Tom [00:13:24] O'Hara, Matt Tyont, Joe [music] Barton, [00:13:29] you know, considered it to be [00:13:30] malfeasants. When I gave him the other [00:13:33] side of things, I managed to convince [00:13:35] him to to kind of cool down a little [00:13:37] bit. And then he told me the board [00:13:39] meeting [music] was scheduled the next [00:13:41] day on the 6th. [00:13:42] >> You didn't receive an agenda ahead of [00:13:44] the meeting. [00:13:45] >> Well, seeing the agenda is one thing. [00:13:47] Living through it is something else. [00:13:54] >> I had [music] no idea what to expect. [00:13:56] I'm basically going into this meeting [00:13:58] understanding, [00:14:00] you know, that that this is like this is [00:14:02] this is do or [music] die. [00:14:04] >> Not a single lick of work got done on [00:14:07] that day. Everyone in our office was [00:14:08] tense waiting for this meeting to get [00:14:10] done. [00:14:10] >> But that meeting, I think folks should [00:14:12] also understand the context. The meeting [00:14:14] was on [music] a video call on audio. So [00:14:17] everybody was pretty much on audio and [00:14:19] not necessarily facing each other except [00:14:20] for three of us. Me, James, [music] and [00:14:23] Tom, our CFO, were in the room and [00:14:27] looking at the screen. It was an awkward [00:14:29] six or seven hours. Like really, really, [00:14:31] really awkward to the point at like [00:14:33] [music] 5 and 1 half almost 6 hours in, [00:14:36] I almost unmuted myself and like with [00:14:39] with the rest of everybody [music] [00:14:40] and just had everybody stop like like I [00:14:44] almost like uncle like enough. [00:14:45] >> Had James prepared an apology letter [00:14:48] ahead of the meeting on February 6th? [00:14:52] I don't know. I don't know for sure. [00:14:55] >> Did James [00:14:55] >> I didn't see it. [00:14:56] >> Did James arrive at the meeting with an [00:14:58] apology letter? [00:15:00] >> I don't recall. [00:15:03] [music] [00:15:03] >> Uh I would offer this um a letter that [00:15:07] I've written [00:15:09] uh to the staff regarding a sincere [00:15:14] >> [snorts] [00:15:14] >> uh heartfelt apology for some of the [00:15:17] things that have happened here in [00:15:19] meetings. and I would like to read it to [00:15:21] you. [00:15:21] >> And I felt I'm willing to apologize and [00:15:23] I genuinely meant it from the bottom of [00:15:24] [music] my heart. If you listen to that, [00:15:26] I mean it. [00:15:26] >> Dear team, on Tuesday of this week, some [00:15:30] of you had the unfortunate experience [00:15:31] [music] of seeing me get into a heated [00:15:33] disagreement over the direction and [00:15:35] nature of our fundraising approaches. [00:15:37] [music] [00:15:38] I confronted an issue in front of a [00:15:39] group that should have been handled [00:15:41] privately, and I was wrong to behave [00:15:43] this way. [00:15:44] >> It was more or less saying, "Yeah, yes, [00:15:45] I did that. So what? [00:15:48] I'll write a letter and it'll be all [00:15:49] over. [00:15:50] >> We are [music] on a stressful journey [00:15:51] together and sometimes the pressure gets [00:15:53] the best of me. It does not matter the [00:15:55] circumstances. I should never behave [00:15:57] that way in front of my colleagues. [00:15:59] >> He used that letter which I still [00:16:00] maintain he did not write. I've [music] [00:16:02] read and edited his [ __ ] for 10 years. [00:16:04] That was he he never, you know, had [00:16:06] words in it [music] like take [00:16:08] responsibility. [00:16:09] >> I failed to lead by example in these [00:16:10] cases. I hurt people who are here [00:16:12] because they believe in our our mission. [00:16:15] I am truly chastened by my behavior as I [00:16:17] [music] let you all down, let myself [00:16:19] down in these instances. This is not [00:16:21] what a great or even good leader does. [00:16:24] >> This is certainly my letter, but you [00:16:25] should [music] certainly stand up there [00:16:27] and, you know, [00:16:29] do a maya [music] [00:16:31] here. [00:16:32] But but he did. [00:16:33] >> We have a long way to go. If we're going [00:16:36] to accomplish this mission, then I must [00:16:38] hold accountable for my actions when [00:16:41] they result in harm. [music] [00:16:42] So my solution is as follows. [00:16:46] I am going to slow down [00:16:49] and listen from here forward. [00:16:52] >> He he didn't seem to have any empathy. [00:16:54] >> I am very proud of this team. I believe [00:16:57] in all of you. I want to work with [00:16:59] [music] you and I want you all to be [00:17:01] happy here in our mission and I will [00:17:04] always walk through walls [00:17:07] for the mission of this place. Well, he [00:17:10] asked the the board [music] distribute [00:17:11] his apology letter with NPV, right? [00:17:14] Objection. [00:17:15] >> I have no idea. [00:17:16] >> You don't recall that? [00:17:16] >> I don't recall that. [00:17:17] >> I suggest that this be distributed to [00:17:21] the staff at the [music] board's [00:17:22] blessing and I be given the opportunity [00:17:25] to actually have these open door [00:17:28] policies this week and [music] beyond. [00:17:32] and have a chance to listen to feedback [00:17:34] without providing any responses but [00:17:37] simply [music] to listen and observe so [00:17:40] that we could figure out the best way [00:17:42] forward. [00:17:46] I took a lot of time writing it and I [00:17:49] genuinely felt I needed to slow down but [00:17:54] they wanted none of it. It was [00:17:56] insufficient [00:17:57] in my opinion because of the the breadth [00:18:01] and depth of the testimony of I think it [00:18:05] was 16 employees. [00:18:06] >> Employee after employee went in and I [00:18:09] expressed an interest in speaking. Only [00:18:11] the people who had things negative to [00:18:12] say were allowed to speak. [00:18:14] >> I had no idea what to expect. I had no [00:18:16] idea in that meeting they were going to [00:18:18] trot out [music] a dozen employees in a [00:18:21] board meeting. Are you aware that Matt [00:18:24] Tierman is the one that collected the [00:18:26] grievances from the employees ahead of [00:18:27] that meeting? [00:18:28] >> Objection. [00:18:29] >> It's not surprising. It was quite [00:18:34] quite typical. Matt and Joe both spent a [00:18:37] huge amount of time in involved with the [00:18:41] people projects. I did not. [00:18:43] >> I mean, Matt Tiermon and Joe Barton were [00:18:45] extremely and intricately involved with [00:18:48] the staff. They were flirting with the [00:18:50] staff. They would send messages to the [00:18:53] staff. Joe Barton even sent one of the [00:18:56] undercover reporters a message offering [00:18:58] her a raise if they can remove me. This [00:19:01] is highly unusual behavior. [00:19:03] >> There were board members involved in [00:19:05] this chat that I was invited to, which [00:19:06] was also a big question mark to me. I [00:19:09] mean, no nonprofit organization I've [00:19:10] ever worked with has had this lack of a [00:19:13] firewall between board members and [00:19:15] employees. Um, I would like to hear from [00:19:20] some other employees so that we have the [00:19:23] full context. [00:19:27] All these staffers, [music] [00:19:28] I would say there was about maybe 12 [00:19:30] staffers in the chat out of 65 employees [00:19:33] were formulating this coup against me. [00:19:36] >> There was a group chat with a whole [00:19:37] bunch of employees in it who [00:19:39] [clears throat] were airing their [00:19:41] grievances to each other. [00:19:43] >> And did the board members know about [00:19:44] that before you? It is not uncommon or [00:19:47] unethical for board members to talk to [00:19:49] employees [00:19:50] >> and collect signatures without a COO [00:19:52] knowing. [00:19:52] >> It's odd. [00:19:53] >> Is Josh Hughes the chief technology [00:19:55] officer, the head of IT? Jake Mantel, an [00:19:57] associate in the media [music] [00:19:58] department organizing these messages. [00:20:01] One of my employees had told me about [00:20:03] Josh Hughes and [music] told me that he [00:20:05] actually did some IT work for the [00:20:07] federal government. There was always a [00:20:08] suspicion that some of these folks may [00:20:11] have been involved with the feds. We do [00:20:14] know there were confidential informants [00:20:15] of project Veritas. We just don't know [00:20:16] who. And we see now Tyond has asked that [00:20:19] we have a letter ready. [00:20:26] >> Someone says PV is about to decide if we [00:20:28] have a company of yesmen or a company of [00:20:30] independent thinkers. This place still [00:20:32] needs to operate. You can have your [00:20:34] place strike for a day knowing there are [00:20:36] people like Freddy and others. They'll [00:20:38] be the real ones that bear the [music] [00:20:40] burden because the engine still needs to [00:20:41] be running. quote, "That's very [00:20:44] communist [music] to me." [00:20:50] >> So, no, this the human thing is now [00:20:51] starting to irritate me cuz I I see [00:20:53] these lame elementary rhetorical devices [00:20:56] for what they are. Kish attempts to [00:20:58] squash any opposition. [00:21:00] >> You find it odd that Dan Stra, the COO, [00:21:04] didn't even know that Matt Turman was [00:21:05] collecting those grievances. [00:21:08] >> I just learned it from you. I don't [00:21:09] know. [00:21:11] I don't like the idea of the letter and [00:21:12] I don't like the idea that it was done [00:21:14] the way it was done in the board [00:21:16] meeting. [00:21:16] >> Why didn't you have control over that? [00:21:18] I'm just asking [00:21:19] >> because the board cuz cuz the board was [00:21:21] doing it. I I really wasn't in control [00:21:23] of that. [00:21:24] >> So the board was putting [00:21:25] >> I wasn't really aware that there was a [00:21:27] letter being for [00:21:28] >> Well, that's another problem. Don't you [00:21:29] think CO [music] all [00:21:30] >> February 5th at 11:00 a.m. right around [00:21:33] the time I'm meeting with George Skagel [00:21:35] in Stanford, Connecticut. Josh Hughes, [00:21:38] the chief technology officer. He says, [00:21:40] "Spoke to Dan Stra and Matt Tierman at [00:21:43] length today. They want a letter, so I'm [00:21:45] going to pen it right now." Dan wants us [00:21:49] to do this. [00:21:50] >> I wouldn't call it behind my back. [00:21:52] >> Did you not just say you didn't know [00:21:53] about it? You said You said you were [00:21:54] unaware. [00:21:55] >> I didn't know about the letter, [00:21:56] >> right? [00:21:57] >> Don't put me on trial, Jas. [00:21:58] >> No, I'm just asking. [00:21:59] >> Don't put me on trial cuz I don't [00:22:00] deserve it. You don't have all the [00:22:01] facts. [00:22:02] >> It becomes very clear that board members [00:22:04] are driving this. Now, I didn't know at [00:22:07] the time, but they were collecting an [00:22:08] actual letter, 16page letter that they [00:22:11] were going to provide to the board of [00:22:13] directors. I had no idea the reason why [00:22:16] James was bad was morphing. He's a mean [00:22:18] boss. He can't keep doing this to us. [00:22:20] Slash, [music] no, what he did to Tom [00:22:22] was illegal. Slash James is mismanaging [00:22:25] funds, by the way. Slash James took a [00:22:29] pregnant woman's sandwich. Our attorney, [00:22:31] Julia Wit, is alleging in the [00:22:33] revolutionary chat that James stole the [00:22:35] pregnant lady's sandwich. [00:22:36] >> I don't have any recollection of there [00:22:39] ever being a sandwich that was meant for [00:22:41] me that you took. I always just got my [00:22:44] own food. So, I don't even know. [00:22:46] >> You got your own food? [00:22:48] >> I always took the responsibility to get [00:22:49] my own food. I don't know why anybody [00:22:51] else would be grabbing me a sandwich. [00:22:53] >> Side note, says Joshu, I've been sharing [00:22:56] drafts with Tiramond and he likes [00:22:58] everything. Tiermon's [00:23:01] swirling people, jinning up people. Matt [00:23:04] Tiermon used these people. [00:23:07] He used them and he discarded them. I [00:23:10] was sent that letter as the meeting [00:23:13] began. Then I was subject to a 6 and 1/2 [00:23:16] hour listing of grievances. This was all [00:23:18] designed. This was all designed by [00:23:21] Tiermon. He wanted to hurt me. [00:23:27] I would like to hear from some other [00:23:29] employees so that we have the full [00:23:31] contact. [00:23:31] >> And up first was Barry Hinckley. He said [00:23:33] he had ran all these companies and he'd [00:23:35] never heard of a car service shuttling [00:23:37] the executive around. [00:23:38] >> I ran a large company with a lot of [00:23:40] employees and I never lived this [00:23:42] lifestyle with black cars running at [00:23:45] $250 an hour constantly picking me up, [00:23:47] moving around. [00:23:48] >> Of course, most executives in $20 [00:23:51] million companies get transported [00:23:53] around. Almost all of our donors told me [00:23:55] they wanted me to have security. They [00:23:57] expected me. They thought it was stupid [00:23:59] for me to drive around myself or in an [00:24:01] Uber X. I just sat there in stunned [00:24:03] silence listening to this. [00:24:05] >> Did you ever see anything that in your [00:24:08] mind crossed the line into financial [00:24:11] malfeasants? [00:24:13] >> I never saw that. I wasn't particularly [00:24:16] concerned about [music] the financial [00:24:18] stuff. [00:24:18] >> Expensive accommodations when the rest [00:24:20] of the staff was staying in one level. I [00:24:22] mean, also wanted one for all effects in [00:24:24] a nonprofit. I one person living one way [00:24:26] and everyone else living another way. [00:24:28] You know, flying a helicopter up to [00:24:30] Maine usually goes up daily. [00:24:31] >> They were upset that [music] I took a [00:24:33] helicopter ride to Maine. [00:24:35] >> So, you never did an analysis to balance [00:24:39] how much PB or PVA received the [00:24:41] donations from this donor in Maine [00:24:46] uh and compare that to the expense of [00:24:47] the helicopter ride. [music] I can tell [00:24:49] you that that doesn't matter. It could [00:24:52] have been $50 million for for all I [00:24:55] care. [00:24:57] >> Well, I don't see anything wrong with [00:24:58] taking the helicopter at all. I've owned [00:25:00] two helicopters. [laughter] [00:25:03] >> It wasn't that big. He wasn't stealing [00:25:06] money and putting it in his pocket. [00:25:08] >> I'd love an opportunity to respond when [00:25:10] Barry Hinckley is off the phone, please. [00:25:13] >> I'm concerned about times. We're 3:00 [00:25:16] right now. They haven't even expressed. [00:25:19] If there are going to be accusations [00:25:21] made about improprieties, [music] [00:25:22] I think it's only appropriate to have [00:25:24] the chief executive officer respond with [00:25:26] the facts of what happened and I [music] [00:25:28] would like to do that. [00:25:30] >> But yeah, I is this something we could [00:25:32] just defer to? Okay. Yeah, go ahead. [00:25:35] >> This is not how you run a board. This is [00:25:37] not how you run a company. I would say [00:25:39] uh there was a a man named [music] John [00:25:41] Trainer. Uh Barry Hankley knows who he [00:25:44] is. He was based in Maine. oftentimes [00:25:47] the [music] chief executive officer has [00:25:49] to have multiple donor meetings in [00:25:52] [music] one day. Sometimes meet with [00:25:54] multiple billionaires in one day and and [00:25:57] due to weather issues that that was uh [00:25:59] that was something I [music] spoke with [00:26:01] Tom O'Hara about and Tom O'Hara I had [00:26:04] his verbal consent to to book [music] [00:26:08] that. [00:26:08] >> Wait, wait, wait. Don't don't don't put [00:26:10] words in my mouth. You said you were at [00:26:12] a dinner meeting. [00:26:13] >> May I finish? Oh, if you're going to [00:26:15] accuse me of consenting to something I [00:26:16] didn't, I would like to defend myself. [00:26:18] >> No accusations, just stating what I [00:26:20] witnessed. This is actually the only [00:26:22] allegation that I was afforded the [00:26:25] opportunity to respond to. I had no idea [00:26:27] they were going to bring in the next [00:26:29] employee. [00:26:29] >> Really, I didn't feel safe going into [00:26:31] the office. That has never happened in [00:26:33] my entire career. [00:26:34] >> This was a kangaroo court, like [00:26:36] Stalinist show trial. Some have called [00:26:40] it a lashing and some have actually [00:26:42] called it a crucifixion. It was designed [00:26:44] to hurt me. [00:26:45] >> There was an event in Red as well. There [00:26:48] were uh suggestions and comments made [00:26:51] that the [music] [00:26:52] dress of his uh girlfriend is not [00:26:54] appropriate. [00:26:54] >> They started talking about what my [00:26:56] girlfriend dresses like in the [00:26:59] boardroom. So I looked at Tom as to say, [00:27:01] "Tom, what does this have to do with our [00:27:03] business? What does this have to do with [00:27:04] how we run operations?" And Tom just [00:27:06] looked at me in the eye and he stared at [00:27:09] me for about 20 seconds. And I thought, [00:27:12] "This is personal. This is personal." [00:27:15] >> Point of order. How many more people are [00:27:17] we going to intend to hear from? [00:27:19] >> I think we should hear from a few more [00:27:21] people from different divisions of the [00:27:23] company, not just uh not just [00:27:25] development. [00:27:26] >> I'll I'll answer that point and say [00:27:29] until the board decides that discussion [00:27:31] is over. [00:27:32] >> Have you ever seen a formal written [00:27:34] complaint or grievance? [00:27:35] >> I don't know what you mean by formal. [00:27:37] Well, it seemed to me that you just had [00:27:39] a distinction in your mind between [00:27:41] formal and informal second year. [00:27:43] >> Well, you use the word formal. I do. [00:27:45] >> And it was all a mob mentality. It was [00:27:47] just they were all just friends with [00:27:49] each other. You can't be friends with [00:27:52] your employees like this. [00:27:54] >> A high netw worth husband and wife. The [00:27:58] wife told me that she asked him for a [00:28:00] photo and he had turned her down. Ardan [00:28:03] brought up this bizarre allegation that [00:28:05] I had made a donor cry because I didn't [00:28:08] want a photo with her or something. [00:28:10] >> The allegations are that he was [00:28:11] extremely rude to one of his donors [00:28:13] [music] which happens to be me and [00:28:15] that's completely blown out of [00:28:17] proportion. I'm really very disappointed [00:28:20] and lupetti allegations towards him are [00:28:22] absolute completely false. [00:28:24] >> This is Ardan sent 4 days later. I [00:28:27] wanted to take the time to formally [00:28:28] apologize for any role I played in [00:28:31] bringing harm to the company, but the [00:28:33] damage had already been done. You see, [00:28:35] >> everyone was basically told, "It's my [00:28:37] way or the highway. If you don't like [00:28:38] it, you can leave." [00:28:40] >> The same Jonathan Bailey months later [00:28:42] would send me text messages of dildos [00:28:44] with seaman on it. John Bailey would be [00:28:47] fired uh in August of the same year when [00:28:50] Project Veritas ran out of money. Then [00:28:53] he asked me for a job. I think James has [00:28:57] become drunk on power, has has [music] [00:29:00] acted like a tyrant. That is an exact as [00:29:03] to what we should be exploding. [00:29:05] >> What was interesting is Jake Mntel sent [00:29:07] me a text message apologizing for saying [00:29:09] that. [00:29:11] And then a year later, Jake Mantel sent [00:29:13] me another message calling me a quote [00:29:15] [ __ ] [00:29:17] >> I can only [music] withstand some, you [00:29:19] know, a certain kind of treatment and I [00:29:21] I demand a certain level of respect. [00:29:24] Bobby Har would later send me a text [00:29:26] message of me eating a sandwich covered [00:29:28] in semen. [00:29:30] He said, "Cry harder, James. They're [00:29:32] effing memes." That's sexual harassment. [00:29:35] >> Problem is, because historically we've [00:29:37] had bad hires like, you know, Jesus [00:29:40] causing a disaster. [00:29:42] >> That same guy, Mike Milani, sends me a [00:29:44] message a few days later apologizing to [00:29:46] me. I hate that everything is happening [00:29:48] this way and I understand if you would [00:29:51] never forgive me, but I just want to let [00:29:53] you know that I love you. I love the [00:29:55] mission. I love what you have built and [00:29:57] I'm deeply sorry. Then later, Mike [00:29:59] Volani would [ __ ] all over me on [00:30:01] Twitter. [00:30:03] >> The daughter that I frequently expressed [00:30:06] with judgment and decision making [00:30:07] >> and this this one really I I I thought [00:30:10] it couldn't get any worse and it somehow [00:30:12] did. We had done a story about Twitter [00:30:15] and one of the vice presidents or one of [00:30:17] the executives said that Elon is special [00:30:19] needs and criticized Elon for his being [00:30:22] on the spectrum. [00:30:23] >> We're jogging here with a Twitter [00:30:24] executive on the streets of New York [00:30:26] City who's literally gone in an allout [00:30:29] sprint. [00:30:30] >> When I went to ask this guy for comment, [00:30:31] this guy started running away and I ran [00:30:33] after him with my microphone. Also, when [00:30:35] it comes to his behavior in videos [00:30:37] making remarks to me about how his ego, [00:30:40] arrogance, and maturity, an example [00:30:43] would be from like the recent FI videos [00:30:45] of Goldman calling him a punk, telling [00:30:47] him to look into his face when he's [00:30:49] talking to him and the former employee [00:30:51] that he literally kicked around. [00:30:54] >> Are you kidding me? [00:30:57] >> We all love that. You love that video. I [00:31:00] the donor you're you loved that video [00:31:02] and you solicited money from donors and [00:31:04] now you're criticizing the video. The [00:31:06] donor wrote us a $200,000 check saying [00:31:09] she loved that video and the method by [00:31:12] which I obtained it. The entire resone [00:31:13] detra of project veritas is to do things [00:31:16] like that. None of it made any actual [00:31:19] sense. My perception is that they did [00:31:21] not serve you well. That they fell [00:31:24] victim uh to many of these petty human [00:31:27] behaviors and motivations in significant [00:31:31] part because [music] of this same kind [00:31:34] of jealousy dynamics. uh the the letters [00:31:38] that [music] a lot of us chose to to [00:31:39] sign. Um if you if you just kind of skip [00:31:42] through all the anecdotes and [music] [00:31:44] sentiments and all that and those are [00:31:45] like fundamental, you know, rights I [00:31:48] think anyone would anyone would want to [00:31:51] sign up for. [00:31:51] >> Joe Barton testifies [music] in federal [00:31:53] court that Josh Hughes gave a USB drive [00:31:58] to Joe Barton [music] [00:32:00] of all the private text messages from [00:32:02] James O'Keefe and RC Maxwell. Do you [00:32:06] agree with me [music] that the content [00:32:08] of those messages is discussing personal [00:32:10] and private affairs? [00:32:11] >> Yes. [00:32:12] >> Private text messages of me to my [00:32:15] girlfriend to Joe Barton, the board [00:32:18] member, who then participates [music] in [00:32:21] the leaking of these messages. [00:32:22] >> You'd agree that those communications [00:32:25] [music] contain personal private details [00:32:28] of Mr. O'Keefe's life? [music] [00:32:30] >> Objection. There was a point where where [00:32:32] your client told Megan Kelly that uh [00:32:35] [music] his life is an open book. So I I [00:32:38] mean I don't know that your client even [00:32:40] has a private life. [music] [00:32:41] >> Messages between my wife and I started [00:32:43] to be posted online. These Project [00:32:45] Veraritoss employees who were at my [00:32:47] wedding [music] were posting these [00:32:49] messages and attacking her and attacking [00:32:51] merely for standing with James. Angelo [00:32:55] Martinez had posted [music] [00:32:58] online [00:32:59] private medical information about RC [00:33:02] Maxwell, [00:33:03] >> saying, "Don't say anything about me [00:33:05] when I know uh I know about your wife [00:33:08] and how she used to struggle mentally, [00:33:10] for lack of a [music] better term." [00:33:12] >> Information about his wife's medication [00:33:14] on Instagram. [00:33:15] >> Yeah. I never gave any of that [00:33:17] information away. I never had access to [00:33:18] any of RC's information. That's all [00:33:20] [music] I'm going to speak on the com on [00:33:21] the topic and uh that's it. So, said, [00:33:24] and I quote, "Yeah, like employees [00:33:26] [music] that would leave their [00:33:28] >> I respect him. He's my friend. I love [00:33:30] him to death, man. I don't care if he [00:33:32] hates me after all. I don't care." [00:33:34] >> Angelo also sent [music] me a message. [00:33:36] You're a [ __ ] and a grifter. The public [00:33:38] may never know what the [ __ ] you did, [00:33:40] but people that matter to you will and [00:33:42] do [music] know. Promise you ever see me [00:33:43] on the street, it's on site. It was an [00:33:45] inversion. Like, I was held to account. [00:33:49] I had all of the accountability [music] [00:33:51] and they had none. [00:33:54] They bring in the HR director. Jennifer [00:33:56] accidentally says, [00:33:58] >> "I understand that there's a possibility [00:34:00] [snorts] that you're asking that he [00:34:02] steps down as a role CEO. [00:34:06] >> Nobody's determined anything. We're just [00:34:07] trying to understand the culture as [00:34:10] >> that question has not even been been [00:34:13] brought. So, [00:34:14] >> nobody's determined anything. We're just [00:34:16] trying to understand the culture like [00:34:17] it's and now I'm starting to realize, oh [00:34:19] my god, this is a setup." It was very [00:34:22] unfortunate that entire [music] Monday [00:34:24] meeting because I felt bad for Jinx for [00:34:27] what he had to endure. [00:34:28] >> The attacks were so severe [music] [00:34:30] against me personally in that boardroom [00:34:32] that one board member asked, quote, "Is [00:34:34] there anything James O'Keeffe is good [00:34:36] at?" [00:34:37] >> Can I ask, do you think [music] that [00:34:38] James is good at anything? And if so, [00:34:41] what are his strengths? [00:34:42] >> That's what your board member said. I [00:34:44] mean, at this point in the board [00:34:45] meeting, I [music] am just I'm in a [00:34:46] state of complete shock. I am I am just [00:34:50] sitting there and and I'm and I'm I'm [00:34:51] just taking a beating. It felt like a [00:34:54] crucifixion. In fact, they actually sent [00:34:56] me a picture later on. They would send [00:34:58] me a picture of me nailed to a cross. [00:35:00] The people with these grievances sent me [00:35:02] a picture of me nailed to a cross and [00:35:05] they listed all of my sins. I mean, and [00:35:08] it was all a mob mentality. Mario [00:35:10] Baliban actually traveled [music] to [00:35:12] Brazil with Matthew Tiermon on a private [00:35:15] jet [00:35:16] and days before February 6th tweeted [00:35:19] out, "Matt Tiermon is a legend." There [00:35:22] he was with Eric Sprackcklin and Gavin [00:35:24] Oolles all golfing together. Matthew [00:35:27] Tmont chose the weakest people and [00:35:30] empowered them. They used these kids. [00:35:34] Matt used them to further his agenda, [00:35:37] his personal agenda. Matt's [music] very [00:35:39] smart. He's very, very high IQ guy. [00:35:42] >> Donald Trump does not belong in this [00:35:45] race. [00:35:45] >> He's also persuasive. [00:35:47] >> If he won, he would enter the White [00:35:50] House as the weakest president in [00:35:51] history because he'd be lame duck day [00:35:53] one. [00:35:53] >> It was a very upsetting board meetings. [00:35:55] It was [00:35:57] more of a revelation to me than I think [00:36:00] it was to Matt Joe. One of the things [00:36:03] that stands out in the meeting is James [00:36:07] didn't do anything to defend himself. [00:36:08] [music] [00:36:09] >> I'd love an opportunity to respond when [00:36:10] Barry Hinckley is off the phone. Please [00:36:13] >> ask if I do I have a chance to respond [00:36:15] [music] to this. I would like to I would [00:36:18] like to read my [00:36:19] >> Let's bring him in. [00:36:21] >> Let's bring him in. [00:36:23] >> He made no effort to defend himself. [00:36:26] >> May I have a chance to [00:36:28] mute? I'm sorry. I'd like to respond to [00:36:33] the statements by Dan. I think it's only [00:36:35] appropriate [music] to have the chief [00:36:36] executive officer respond with the [00:36:38] facts. I would like I have a right to [00:36:40] respond [00:36:41] >> or object to anything [00:36:44] uh anybody was saying. [00:36:46] >> After the 6 hours, I was asked what I [00:36:49] had to say for myself. [00:36:53] >> I was given about 10 seconds to [music] [00:36:54] respond. He he didn't seem to have any [00:36:57] empathy and he didn't seem to have any [00:37:00] impulse to defend himself at all. [00:37:02] >> What do you expect us to do given these [00:37:05] allegations? [00:37:07] >> Well, will I [music] have a chance to [00:37:09] respond to them? There's two separate [00:37:12] issues here. There's the [00:37:14] >> No, no. The the quick answer is no. Not [00:37:17] here. Not now. [00:37:19] >> I didn't prevent it from responding, [00:37:21] that's for sure. [00:37:24] but he thought that I did. [music] [00:37:27] >> And then George Skakel sent me an email [00:37:29] apologizing for not giving me a chance [00:37:32] to respond. [00:37:33] >> My actions were impulsive, impatient, [00:37:36] and inappropriate, which contributed to [00:37:38] the outcome we are all suffering from. [00:37:40] Now, [00:37:41] >> the purpose of that paragraph is to try [00:37:43] to get James into the mood to negotiate [00:37:48] and listen to me. I honestly don't think [00:37:52] that I was impulsive, impatient, or or [00:37:55] anything inappropriate. [00:37:56] >> We're here to preserve Project Paradox. [00:38:00] Okay. What do we do? What do we do about [00:38:02] you? [00:38:03] >> I'm not sure what they wanted except for [00:38:05] me to feel abused and feel pain, which [00:38:09] is not what a board is supposed to do. [00:38:11] I'm not certain [music] if there's a [00:38:14] an opportunity to respond to these [00:38:16] things or if that's something that uh [00:38:17] [music] people want me to do. I can [00:38:21] um if I'm given time to respond to that. [00:38:24] This was a struggle session designed to [00:38:27] get under my skin, designed to inflict [00:38:30] pain, designed to make me lose my cool [00:38:33] and say something I regret. But more [00:38:35] [music] importantly, I'd like to hear [00:38:37] from the board what what their solution [00:38:40] is if it's not the one that I've [00:38:41] proposed. [00:38:42] >> What the board needed [00:38:45] and I think what project Veritas needed [00:38:47] was a commitment from James to [00:38:52] remove [music] himself from certain [00:38:54] activities. So just be a good boy. Do [00:38:57] what [music] you're told. You can get [00:38:59] everything you want and you don't have [00:39:01] to work as hard. Just stay out of [00:39:03] certain areas. [music] [00:39:04] Be a good boy. Be Be a good little boy. [00:39:06] Do what we tell you to do. Do be a [00:39:07] dancing bit. Raise the [music] money. Do [00:39:09] the You can't You can't raise $24 [00:39:12] million and do the journalism if you [00:39:15] don't have the authority to make hard [00:39:17] decisions. They wanted me to have all of [00:39:19] the responsibility fundraising and [00:39:22] generating [music] the journalism, but [00:39:23] they wanted to take away all of my power [00:39:26] and all of my control and all of my [00:39:29] authority. It was an emotional time [00:39:31] seeing his his baby get ripped from him [00:39:37] and it wasn't right. [00:39:38] >> You never went through what I went [00:39:40] through. You didn't endure all the [00:39:41] things I had to endure. [00:39:44] The third door opened up. [00:39:47] >> You weren't sleeping on a couch trying [00:39:49] to raise a hundred bucks here, a [00:39:51] thousand bucks here. I'm invoking the [00:39:53] Constitution [music] here. Every [00:39:54] defendant has the right to a fair trial [00:39:57] and no justice can be done [music] in [00:39:59] Ferguson or New York City if a fair [00:40:01] trial cannot be had. You didn't sleep on [00:40:03] a mattress in Louisiana. [music] You [00:40:05] weren't falsely accused by the federal [00:40:07] government, not once, but twice. You [00:40:08] didn't go through three jury trials. [00:40:10] >> That same James [music] O'Keefe is [00:40:11] facing federal felony charges. Charges [00:40:13] that carry up to a4 million fine and 10 [00:40:16] years in prison. [00:40:16] >> You never put on a hidden camera once in [00:40:19] your life other than to record me in my [00:40:21] office. You didn't bleed and sweat and [00:40:24] cry the way that I did for 14 years. And [00:40:28] you come into my institution and you [00:40:29] have the gall to tell me that you're not [00:40:31] the bad guy. This was never about you. [00:40:33] >> I want to remind you, James, [music] [00:40:35] that you are here amongst some of your [00:40:38] closest friends that have supported you [00:40:41] for many, many, many years. [music] [00:40:43] There is no coup here. [00:40:46] You have to trust these people to do the [00:40:49] right thing for you. There were quote [00:40:51] corrective actions. Hinckley would come [00:40:54] back. They were going to rehire Barry [00:40:56] Hinckley. [00:40:56] >> All in favor of of reinstating Barry [00:40:59] [music] Hinckley. [00:41:00] >> I [00:41:02] opposed. [00:41:03] >> Any opposed? [00:41:04] >> Opposed. [00:41:07] Tom O'Hara would be restored as CFO and [00:41:10] um [music] [00:41:12] >> question is the CEO's [00:41:15] hiring and firing [music] privileges [00:41:18] shall be revoked for a period of 180 [00:41:21] days. [00:41:23] >> All in favor. [00:41:25] >> The CEO's [music] ability to make these [00:41:27] decisions suspended for 180 days. [00:41:30] >> I vote in a motion. [00:41:32] >> The CEO is placed [music] on leave for 2 [00:41:33] weeks. I [00:41:35] >> and the CEO's access to donors is [00:41:37] restricted. [00:41:38] >> All oppose. [00:41:39] >> I I [00:41:41] need an answer right now. No, the [00:41:43] [music] answer is absolutely not. [00:41:46] >> Okay. [00:41:46] >> Okay. So, that's part of why the motion [00:41:48] happens. [00:41:49] >> If I can't talk to donors, I can't raise [00:41:52] money. The one trump card I had in this [00:41:55] meeting [00:41:57] was, "What's your plan? [00:41:59] What are you guys [music] going to do?" [00:42:02] I I just want to remind you that we love [00:42:05] you and we care about your organization [00:42:08] and you are destroying [music] it. [00:42:09] You're destroying the thing that you [00:42:11] created. [00:42:11] >> My my question is what [00:42:14] >> what is the plan of of [music] uh if you [00:42:17] implement this solution [00:42:20] is an organization that has 65 [00:42:23] incredibly [music] talented individuals [00:42:25] who are capable of doing journalism. We [00:42:28] don't believe that there will be any [00:42:30] lost output uh on the margin. [00:42:35] >> They told me to [music] be quiet and go [00:42:37] away and I did exactly as I was [00:42:38] instructed because if I didn't follow [00:42:40] their instructions that would be [music] [00:42:41] used against me. So I was put in an [00:42:43] untenable situation where I was told to [00:42:46] be gone for 2 weeks but don't be gone [00:42:48] for 2 weeks be [music] available to us. [00:42:51] It was illogical and it was completely [00:42:53] irrational. It was designed to be it was [00:42:56] designed [music] to torture me. When the [00:42:57] meeting ended, Tom wouldn't look me in [00:42:59] the eye and I looked Tom O'Hara in the [00:43:02] eye. He wouldn't look [music] at me. [00:43:04] >> I regret as we left that room, Tom [00:43:07] O'Hara was the first person to leave the [00:43:08] room cuz he was closest to the door and [00:43:10] then James and I were sitting there sort [00:43:12] of collecting our things. [00:43:14] And I regret not saying something at [00:43:16] that moment. [00:43:19] Something like that was rough or [music] [00:43:22] like are you okay? Like we're going to [00:43:25] get through this. like like do you want [00:43:27] to talk like you want to get a cup of [00:43:29] coffee? Like I want like I'm and I [00:43:31] didn't [00:43:33] I regret that. Um I did. [00:43:35] >> Stra in my [music] opinion should have [00:43:38] stepped up and been you know been more [00:43:40] of a leader [00:43:42] >> and I walked out of the conference room, [00:43:45] turned the corner and walked out the [00:43:47] door. My credit card was suspended. I I [00:43:51] had no authority and no power. And um I [00:43:55] got in my car, I started to cry, I drove [00:43:58] home to New Jersey. It was just it was [00:44:00] [music] horrible. It was just completely [00:44:02] devastating. [00:44:04] >> It was communicated as, "Oh, we're just [00:44:05] kind of forcing [music] James to take a [00:44:06] vacation. He's taking a break. He's [00:44:08] going to come back. We're going to [00:44:09] figure this out. Everyone get back to [00:44:11] work is how it was communicated to us." [00:44:14] >> And is that when people started to [00:44:15] panic? [00:44:15] >> Well, the people were already panicking [00:44:17] when the article came out in New York [00:44:19] Magazine. [00:44:22] on business. That's what I do. Phone [00:44:23] blowing up through [00:44:28] the view. I gottage [00:44:30] [music] [00:44:34] >> New York Times calls me. [00:44:36] >> They want to comment. [00:44:37] >> By this point now, all sorts of outside [00:44:39] people are hitting us up. Charlie Kirk [00:44:41] and people like people I know are like, [00:44:43] "RC, what's going on?" [00:44:44] >> And then [00:44:46] things start to collapse. [00:44:52] >> [music] [00:44:57] [music] [00:45:00] >> I was fundraising in the wake of what [00:45:02] the board did in February. [00:45:04] >> Objection. [00:45:05] >> It It fell off dramatically. [00:45:07] >> Exclusive. I've obtained a cease and [00:45:09] desist demand letter representing a [00:45:11] large group of significant PV donors. [00:45:13] >> Request for donations returned. [music] [00:45:16] Just there's thousands of people want [00:45:17] their money back. Thousands. [00:45:19] >> Talk to me. Don't talk to me crazy. [00:45:21] Yeah. 10 out of 10. Yeah. You know I'm [00:45:24] wavy. Yeah. [00:45:27] Don't talk to me crazy. Yeah. [ __ ] I'm [00:45:29] a dollar. Yeah. I'm not your baby. [00:45:32] Talk to me. Don't [00:45:36] [music] [00:45:37] you know I'm wavy. [00:45:38] >> There's now no more money coming in. [00:45:40] Like the donor department dried up when [00:45:42] this thing went public. Dan and the [00:45:44] board. They never came to a point of [00:45:46] honesty. [00:45:47] >> During this two week hiatus, they hold a [00:45:50] second board meeting and demand that I [00:45:52] talk to them. He has to pick up a phone [00:45:54] and call me. He [music] has to because [00:45:56] I'm telling you, if a board statement [00:45:57] goes out the way that they're thinking [00:45:59] about doing it, it's [ __ ] over. [00:46:01] >> It's [ __ ] over, Nate. It's over. And [00:46:03] I don't I I'm not on the board. I can't [00:46:05] vote them to stop the [00:46:06] >> It was never the intention of the board [00:46:07] to indefinitely suspend [00:46:09] >> James O'Keefe, but they did. Yeah, they [00:46:12] did it on February 10th. He left [00:46:15] voluntarily. He was not fired. [00:46:18] He was suspended [00:46:20] >> without pay. [00:46:22] >> Please let the witness finish his [00:46:23] answer. [00:46:24] >> Big deal. [00:46:24] >> Please let the witness answer his [00:46:25] question. [00:46:26] >> Suspended without pay. [00:46:28] >> I don't recall. [00:46:29] >> Indefinitely. [00:46:30] >> I I don't recall. [00:46:31] >> At the behest of Matt Tiermon, they [00:46:33] indefinitely suspended me from from the [00:46:36] company [00:46:38] without pay. [00:46:40] >> So I was fired [music] on February 10th. [00:46:47] We, the staff at Project Veraritoss, are [00:46:49] at a crossroads. Highlevel disputes [00:46:52] between our leader and founder, James [00:46:54] O'Keefe, and the volunteer board of [00:46:56] directors who are responsible for [00:46:58] oversight of the nonprofit have resulted [00:47:00] in James no longer being here. James is [00:47:03] not only the founder of Project [00:47:04] Veraritoss, but the creative visionary [00:47:07] of our mission. This devastated us and [00:47:10] the audience we exist for. James hasn't [00:47:12] resigned, nor was he fired. These events [00:47:15] confuse and they hurt us, leaving all of [00:47:18] us in a [music] state of limbo. [00:47:20] >> It was just really just painful [00:47:22] everything that happened over the next [00:47:23] couple of weeks. [00:47:24] >> Do you recall a email from James O'Keefe [00:47:27] where he said, "I'll come back on the [00:47:28] condition that [music] the board [00:47:30] resigns." [00:47:32] >> I remember something along those lines, [00:47:34] but I don't think that was about to [00:47:35] happen. James's behavior was was radical [00:47:39] and unexpected. [music] [00:47:40] It's It's not normal human behavior. [00:47:44] >> A founder and CEO who has taken the [00:47:47] company from nothing to fundraising $22 [00:47:49] [music] million a year and he's [00:47:52] confronted in a 6 and 1/2 hour grievance [00:47:54] session [music] and suspended without an [00:47:56] opportunity to even respond. That's not [00:47:58] normal behavior. [00:47:59] >> Objection. [00:48:02] [music] [00:48:12] on February 20th. [00:48:14] >> Yeah. [00:48:15] >> Uh 2023, [music] [00:48:16] 2 weeks after the initial suspension. [00:48:19] >> Uh-huh. [00:48:20] >> The board of directors released a [00:48:22] statement publicly accusing James of [00:48:26] hundreds [music] of personal endurments, [00:48:28] taking this helicopter flight, using [00:48:30] black cars. [00:48:31] >> I was against that release. Why were you [00:48:34] against the release? [00:48:36] >> I didn't want to cause harm to [music] [00:48:37] James [00:48:39] >> at that time. [00:48:44] >> Oh my god. On national TV. [00:48:49] >> Baby, [screaming] [00:48:50] let's go. [00:48:53] I [00:48:53] >> mean, we had no CEO at this point. And [00:48:55] so the board is looking, generally [00:48:57] speaking, at the time I, as I recall, [00:48:59] the board is looking for the people in [00:49:01] management who are left, which are Tom [00:49:03] O'Hara and Dan Stra. [music] [00:49:05] At least I was hoping that Dan would [00:49:09] step up and take charge. [00:49:11] >> Yeah. So yesterday we took the [00:49:12] deposition of Dan Stra who was the COO [00:49:15] at the time. [00:49:16] >> Yeah. and he testified [00:49:19] and he he was actually recorded saying [00:49:22] >> if a board statement goes out the way [00:49:23] that they're thinking about doing it, [00:49:25] it's [ __ ] over. It's over. [00:49:27] >> So, you and Dan Stra are in agreement [00:49:29] that this was ill advised. [00:49:31] >> I Yes, [00:49:32] >> I'm charged. [00:49:33] >> Who Who is it on the board that is in [00:49:37] control? [music] [00:49:37] >> I want to present my friend and my [00:49:40] brother and my comrade in arms on whose [00:49:42] board I proudly serve. [00:49:44] >> [ __ ] this [ __ ] guy. Donald Trump [00:49:46] [music] does not belong in this race. He [00:49:48] would enter the White House as the [00:49:50] weakest [music] president in history [00:49:51] because he'd be lame duck day one. [00:49:54] >> He's a little bit unhitched. [music] [00:49:56] >> I told him he's crazy. [00:49:59] >> Why is it that Matt Tiermon [00:50:02] [music and singing] and Joe Barton are [00:50:03] in control of this board? [00:50:05] >> Matt's very smart. He's very bright, [00:50:07] very high IQ guy. He's uh he's also [00:50:10] [music] persuasive. [00:50:14] Tiermon's [00:50:16] swirling people, jinning up people. They [00:50:19] used these kids. [00:50:21] Matt used them to further his agenda, [00:50:24] his personal agenda. [music] [00:50:25] >> When before today was the last time you [00:50:26] spoke with Matt Turbine. [00:50:31] I have frequent conversations with Matt [00:50:34] [music] because I'm an investor in four [00:50:39] companies [music] that he has [00:50:42] um been raising money for [music] and um [00:50:46] I have you know business reasons to talk [00:50:48] to him. [00:50:50] >> When did you begin [music] investing in [00:50:51] Matt's companies? [00:50:54] >> A few years ago. [00:50:55] >> While you were on the board? [00:50:57] >> Yes, I think I was on the board then. Do [00:51:00] you recall any specific conversation [00:51:01] with James O'Keefe where you told him, [00:51:04] "I'm investing [music] in Matt Tmont's [00:51:07] companies." [00:51:07] >> James does is not a business guy. There [00:51:11] would be no reason for me to talk to [00:51:14] um James about my [music] private [00:51:18] transactions with Termont. [00:51:21] Well, when money's involved, [00:51:25] you could see that that would create an [00:51:27] alignment between the board members, [00:51:29] right? Objection. [00:51:30] >> I don't know what you mean. Align. [00:51:31] [music] [00:51:31] >> Wouldn't you agree with me that [00:51:32] >> we were aligned, but because we're on [00:51:34] the board, [00:51:35] >> right? But when things [music] uh become [00:51:37] difficult, you're more likely to align [00:51:40] with those that you have you share [00:51:42] financial interest with. Wouldn't you [00:51:43] agree with that? [00:51:44] >> Objection. [00:51:45] >> No, I think they're [music] completely [00:51:46] separate. [00:51:47] >> How do you define conflict of interest? [00:51:50] Oh, I don't know. Give me a dictionary [00:51:52] and I'll [music] read you the [00:51:53] definition. [00:51:53] >> Nothing about how I've conducted myself [00:51:56] over the past 13 years has really [00:51:58] fundamentally [music] changed. Consider [00:52:00] the news that did not break today. The [00:52:02] protransparency only thing that has [00:52:04] changed is that we broke the [music] [00:52:07] biggest story in our organization's [00:52:08] history. was a story that was so big [00:52:11] that it was a combination of the board [00:52:13] thinking they finally could do this [00:52:15] without James O'Keeffe, but also maybe [00:52:17] some conflicts of interest per their own [00:52:19] words. [00:52:20] >> Is it fair to say that three of the four [00:52:23] companies you've invested in you would [00:52:24] consider to be [music] in the medical [00:52:27] field [00:52:27] >> or Petrogen [00:52:30] could be sold to a big pharma [music] [00:52:32] >> like Fizer? [00:52:35] You agree with me? What? Fizer could be [00:52:36] a candidate for [00:52:38] >> maybe potentially. Yeah. I mean, you [00:52:40] know, I think if I was a banker, you'd [00:52:42] be crazy not to let [music] Fiser know [00:52:44] that it was available. [00:52:46] >> Yeah. It turns out I I was up against [00:52:48] all these people who were financially [00:52:51] aligned, real loyal to each other. [00:52:54] >> George, [00:52:55] >> were you an investor in the same company [00:52:57] as Matt Turmont? [00:52:59] >> Some of [music] them. [00:53:00] >> He didn't disclose that. Uh, but I [00:53:02] doesn't I wasn't an investor in the [00:53:03] companies while I was on your board. [00:53:05] >> While you were on the board? [00:53:07] >> Yes, I think I was on the board then. [00:53:09] >> You weren't? [00:53:09] >> No. [00:53:10] >> When did [music] you become an investor? [00:53:11] >> After I left your board, [00:53:13] >> is that right? [00:53:14] >> How much did you invest in each of Matt [00:53:16] Tierman's companies? [00:53:17] >> I don't think that's any of your [00:53:19] business. [00:53:20] >> I think [music] it is. How much did you [00:53:21] >> We have a disagreement. [00:53:23] >> Are you refusing to answer the question? [00:53:25] >> Yes. [music] [00:53:25] >> I want to talk about your investments in [00:53:27] >> I want to talk about you. How much money [00:53:29] did you spend? How much money did you [00:53:31] spend on private helicopters? [00:53:33] >> I wasn't particularly [music] concerned [00:53:35] about the financial stuff. [00:53:36] >> There is no reason for me to disclose [00:53:38] anything. My personal investments. [00:53:40] >> Yes. [00:53:40] >> That's ridiculous. [00:53:41] >> Well, you said you're [music] a [00:53:42] businessman and Fiser could be a buyer. [00:53:44] What did you mean by that? [00:53:45] >> What did you mean? [00:53:46] >> I invest in businesses. That's not news. [00:53:48] >> About making money. That's how I made [00:53:50] >> Yeah, it's all about making money, isn't [00:53:51] it? [00:53:51] >> How do you think I paid for this? [00:53:53] >> Is it all about money? [00:53:54] >> Too bad you can't afford that. [00:53:56] >> Cuz you're a cheat. [00:53:57] >> You're a liar. [00:53:58] >> Yeah. Well, it's all about money, isn't [00:54:00] it? It's all about money. [00:54:02] >> It's all because I'm not a business guy. [00:54:05] It's all about money, isn't it? [00:54:06] >> I don't know what you're talking about. [00:54:07] >> It's about money. [00:54:10] [music]