History of Project Veritas in Timeline

Project Veritas, founded in 2010 by James O'Keefe, is a far-right American activist group known for its undercover sting operations. These operations involve secretly recording targets, often through deceptive editing and entrapment, with the aim of discrediting mainstream media and progressive organizations. The group also spreads disinformation and conspiracy theories through its videos and activities.

1997: Alleged Voter Fraud

Allegations of voter fraud in the 1997 Jersey City mayoral election surfaced.

2006: Meeting Lila Rose and Targeting Planned Parenthood

In 2006, James O'Keefe met Lila Rose, and they began making undercover videos at Planned Parenthood clinics.

May 2007: Planned Parenthood Cease and Desist

In May 2007, Planned Parenthood issued a cease and desist letter to Lila Rose and James O'Keefe over their undercover videos.

September 2009: ACORN Sting

In September 2009, O'Keefe and Hannah Giles released edited videos appearing to show ACORN employees giving advice on illegal activities.

December 2009: ACORN Investigation Results

In December 2009, an external investigation cleared ACORN of illegality, but criticized its management practices.

2009: ACORN Videos and Aftermath

In 2009, O'Keefe's ACORN videos led to investigations and the eventual dissolution of the organization. O'Keefe's methods and editing techniques were criticized.

2009: Misleading Videos Target ACORN

In 2009, associates of Project Veritas released misleading videos about ACORN, leading to its shutdown. Although ACORN was later cleared of wrongdoing, this incident marked an early example of Project Veritas's tactics.

January 2010: Project Veritas Members Arrested at Senator Landrieu's Office

In January 2010, James O'Keefe and colleagues were arrested at Senator Mary Landrieu's office, charged with entering federal property under false pretenses.

March 1, 2010: No Criminal Wrongdoing Found

On March 1, 2010, the Brooklyn District Attorney found no criminal wrongdoing by ACORN staff in New York.

March 2010: ACORN Dissolves

ACORN announced its dissolution in March 2010 due to loss of funding.

June 14, 2010: GAO Report Clears ACORN

On June 14, 2010, the Government Accountability Office found no evidence of ACORN mishandling federal funds.

June 2010: O'Keefe's Early Deceptive Videos

Before founding Project Veritas in June 2010, James O'Keefe had already produced two series of deceptive videos.

June 2010: O'Keefe Founds Project Veritas

James O'Keefe established Project Veritas in June 2010 and led the organization as chairman until February 2023.

August 2010: Project Veritas Plans Staged Encounter with CNN Correspondent

In August 2010, O'Keefe planned a staged encounter with CNN correspondent Abbie Boudreau, intending to film a compromising situation.

October 25, 2010: Teachers Unions Gone Wild Videos Released

On October 25, 2010, O'Keefe released videos titled "Teachers Unions Gone Wild," targeting the New Jersey Education Association.

October 26, 2010: More Teachers Union Videos

On October 26, 2010, O'Keefe released further videos related to the New Jersey Education Association, including a staged phone call and allegations of voter fraud.

2010: ACORN Cleared, Veritas's Tactics Come Under Scrutiny

In 2010, the Attorney General of California cleared ACORN of any wrongdoing, raising questions about the methods employed by Project Veritas in their 2009 operation.

2010: Founding of Project Veritas

Project Veritas, an American far-right activist group, was founded in 2010 by James O'Keefe. The group is known for producing deceptively edited videos from undercover operations, using secret recordings to discredit mainstream media and progressive groups.

March 8, 2011: Targeting NPR

On March 8, 2011, O'Keefe released a heavily edited video of a discussion with NPR's fundraising executives.

2011: Donors Trust Funds Project Veritas

Beginning in 2011, Donors Trust started providing significant funding to Project Veritas, contributing over $6.6 million until 2019.

2011: Targeting Welfare Benefits

In 2011, O'Keefe released videos of an actor attempting to fraudulently apply for welfare benefits, which ultimately led to no findings of fraud.

2011: Project Veritas Receives Funding from Donors Trust

In 2011, Project Veritas received $25,000 from Donors Trust, a conservative donor-advised fund.

January 2012: New Hampshire Primary Ballot Video

In January 2012, O'Keefe released a video of associates obtaining ballots using names of deceased voters.

August 2012: O'Keefe's Motion Denied

In August 2012, a judge denied O'Keefe's motion for summary judgment in a case related to the ACORN videos.

October 24, 2012: Targeting Jim Moran's Campaign

On October 24, 2012, a video was released showing Patrick Moran, son of Representative Jim Moran, discussing a plan to cast fraudulent ballots.

2012: Additional Settlement Paid to ACORN Employee

Another Project Veritas member paid a $50,000 settlement in 2012 to an ACORN employee in a defamation lawsuit.

January 31, 2013: Arlington County Investigation Concludes with No Charges

On January 31, 2013, the Arlington County Police Department, in conjunction with the Offices of the Virginia Attorney General and the Arlington County Commonwealth's Attorney, concluded their investigation into Patrick Moran and the Jim Moran for Congress campaign, finding no grounds for charges. The County highlighted the campaign's full cooperation, contrasting it with the uncooperative party responsible for the video's production.

March 5, 2013: Settlement with Juan Carlos Vera

On March 5, 2013, O'Keefe settled with Juan Carlos Vera for $100,000 and apologized for his actions related to the ACORN videos.

August 2013: O'Keefe Releases Video of Confrontation with Former U.S. Attorney

In August 2013, James O'Keefe released a video of a confrontation with former U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

2013: NPR CEO Resigns After Deceptively Edited Video

Following the release of a deceptively edited video by Project Veritas in 2013, NPR CEO Vivian Schiller resigned. The video portrayed an NPR executive making controversial comments.

2013: Project Veritas Releases Video on Colorado Election Modernization Act

In 2013, Project Veritas released a video showing individuals appearing to be okay with illegal suggestions regarding discarded ballots in Colorado.

2013: O'Keefe Issues Statement of Regret, Pays Settlement

James O'Keefe issued a statement of regret and paid a $100,000 settlement in 2013 to an ACORN employee who sued for defamation.

2013: New Hampshire Investigation Dropped

The New Hampshire Attorney General's office dropped its investigation of O'Keefe for voter fraud in 2013.

October 2014: Project Veritas Attempts to Bait Colorado Congressional Staffers

In October 2014, O'Keefe and colleagues attempted to bait staffers for Congressman Jared Polis and Senator Mark Udall into approving voter fraud.

2014: Project Veritas's Deceptive Video Targeting Josh Fox Backfires at Cannes

At the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, Project Veritas released a misleading video suggesting environmental filmmaker Josh Fox was susceptible to foreign influence. Posing as Middle Eastern investors, they offered funding for a documentary. However, Fox's own recording of the conversation revealed he repeatedly declined their offer, exposing the video's deceptive editing.

2014: Project Veritas Video on Battleground Texas Deemed "Political Disinformation"

In 2014, a Project Veritas video alleging voter registration illegalities by Battleground Texas led to a complaint and subsequent investigation by special prosecutors. Their report found no criminal offense and insufficient evidence, labeling the video as "political disinformation." The case was dismissed.

May 2015: Trump Foundation Donates to Project Veritas

In May 2015, the Donald J. Trump Foundation donated $10,000 to Project Veritas, one month before Trump launched his presidential campaign.

December 16, 2015: Project Veritas Secretly Records NYC Board of Elections Commissioner

On December 16, 2015, a Project Veritas operative, posing as a consultant, secretly recorded NYC Board of Elections Commissioner Alan Schulkin criticizing Mayor de Blasio's ID program and alleging voter fraud.

2015: Donors Trust Increases Funding to Project Veritas

Donors Trust provided $922,500 to Project Veritas in 2015.

2015: ABC News Conducts Unaired Interview with Epstein Accuser

In 2015, ABC News conducted an interview with a key accuser of Jeffrey Epstein, which was not aired at the time. This event became a subject of controversy in 2019 when Project Veritas released a recording of an ABC anchor discussing the unaired interview.

March 16, 2016: O'Keefe Accidentally Records Phone Call Revealing Targeting Plans

On March 16, 2016, O'Keefe accidentally recorded a phone call revealing plans to target groups and create embarrassing videos.

October 2016: Project Veritas Releases Video of NYC Board of Elections Commissioner

In October 2016, Project Veritas released the secretly recorded video of Alan Schulkin.

October 18, 2016: Project Veritas Releases "Rigging the Election" Videos

On October 18, 2016, Project Veritas released videos titled "Rigging the Election", appearing to show Scott Foval of Americans United for Change discussing placing people at the front of rally rope lines. The video's accuracy and potential omission of context were questioned, with the raw footage unavailable. Wisconsin's Attorney General found no voting law violations.

October 26, 2016: Project Veritas Video Alleges Illegal Foreign Funding of Liberal Groups

On October 26, 2016, Project Veritas released a video claiming illegal foreign funding of Americans United for Change, a 501(c)4 organization legally permitted to accept such contributions. The group returned the money, distancing themselves from O'Keefe and criticizing his tactics.

2016: False Claims Against Clinton Campaign

During the 2016 presidential election, Project Veritas made unsubstantiated claims about illegal donations to Hillary Clinton's campaign.

2016: Project Veritas Video Leads to Guilty Plea in Voter Fraud Case

In 2016, Project Veritas released a video alleging a New Hampshire voter voted twice, once under an assumed name.

2016: Allegations of Google's Political Bias in the 2016 Election

In 2016, Project Veritas, along with other sources, made allegations about Google's political bias in the 2016 election.

2016: Trump Alleges Google Vote Manipulation

In 2016, following the release of internal Google documents by Project Veritas, then-President Trump claimed, without evidence, that Google had manipulated votes in favor of Hillary Clinton. Google denied the allegations.

2016: Project Veritas Receives $1.7 Million from Donors Trust

Project Veritas received $1.7 million from Donors Trust in 2016.

December 31, 2016: Alan Schulkin Not Reappointed to NYC Board of Elections

On December 31, 2016, Alan Schulkin's term on the NYC Board of Elections expired, and he was not reappointed, following the controversy surrounding the Project Veritas video.

January 9, 2017: Project Veritas Operative Attempts to Incite Riot at Trump Inauguration

On January 9, 2017, Project Veritas operative Allison Maass was filmed attempting to bribe members of Americans Take Action to incite a riot at Trump's inauguration.

January 16, 2017: Project Veritas Video Targets Disrupt J20, Leading to Arrests

On January 16, 2017, a Project Veritas video showed Disrupt J20 members allegedly plotting to use stink bombs at the DeploraBall. Disrupt J20 claimed the information was intentionally false, but the video still resulted in arrests and guilty pleas.

June 1, 2017: Democracy Partners Sues Project Veritas

On June 1, 2017, Democracy Partners filed a $1 million lawsuit against Project Veritas, alleging lies to gain access and wiretapping law violations.

June 26, 2017: Project Veritas Video Targets CNN Producer John Bonifield

On June 26, 2017, Project Veritas released a video of CNN producer John Bonifield seemingly criticizing CNN's Russia investigation coverage. The video misrepresented Bonifield's role, and CNN defended him, emphasizing diverse opinions.

June 28, 2017: Project Veritas Releases "American Pravda" Video Targeting Van Jones

On June 28, 2017, Project Veritas released a video of CNN anchor Van Jones as part of its "American Pravda" series. Jones accused O'Keefe of deceptive editing and taking his remarks out of context.

June 30, 2017: Project Veritas Releases Undercover Videos of CNN Employee

On June 30, 2017, Project Veritas released undercover videos featuring a CNN associate producer making disparaging comments about then-President Trump, voters, and colleagues.

July 2017: Project Veritas Operative Attempts to Infiltrate Media Outlets

Starting July 2017, a Project Veritas operative attempted to infiltrate The Washington Post and other media outlets.

November 2017: Project Veritas Sting Operation Targeting The Washington Post Exposed

In November 2017, The Washington Post exposed a Project Veritas sting operation involving a false accusation against Roy Moore.

2017: Failed Attempt to Deceive Washington Post about Roy Moore

In 2017, Project Veritas tried to trick The Washington Post into publishing a fabricated story concerning sexual misconduct allegations against Roy Moore. The attempt failed, and the Post exposed Project Veritas's scheme.

2017: Washington Post Exposes Veritas's Disinformation Attempt

In 2017, The Washington Post uncovered Project Veritas's attempt to plant a false story about Roy Moore, highlighting the group's efforts to spread disinformation.

March 2018: Project Veritas Targets National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster

Project Veritas's operation against National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster concluded in March 2018 when McMaster resigned.

May 2, 2018: Project Veritas Releases Videos Targeting Teachers' Union

On May 2, 2018, Project Veritas released videos that purported to show teachers' union administrators defending a teacher accused of misconduct, sparking controversy and an arbitration case.

2018: The Washington Post Wins Pulitzer Prize

In 2018, The Washington Post won a Pulitzer Prize for its reporting on allegations against Roy Moore, including its exposé of the Project Veritas sting operation.

2019: Donors Trust Funding Ends

By 2019, Donors Trust had provided over $6.6 million in funding to Project Veritas. This year marks the end of their financial contributions to the organization.

2019: Donors Trust Grants Over $4 Million to Project Veritas

In 2019, Donors Trust granted over $4 million to Project Veritas.

2019: Project Veritas Accuses ABC News of Suppressing Epstein Interview

In 2019, Project Veritas accused ABC News of suppressing a 2015 interview with a key accuser of Jeffrey Epstein, releasing a recording of anchor Amy Robach expressing frustration over the unaired interview. ABC maintained the story lacked corroboration.

2019: Project Veritas Releases Internal Google Documents

In 2019, Project Veritas released internal Google documents related to the 2016 election, alleging bias but providing no evidence of vote manipulation.

2019: Project Veritas Whistleblowers Utilize Crowdfunding

In 2019, several Project Veritas whistleblowers launched crowdfunding campaigns, raising substantial amounts on platforms like GoFundMe.

July 2020: Project Veritas Video Implies Ilhan Omar Connection to Ballot Harvesting

In July 2020, Project Veritas released a video edited to imply a connection between Ilhan Omar and alleged ballot harvesting. The full, unedited videos, later obtained by FOX 9, contradicted this narrative. Ballot harvesting was legal in Minnesota at the time.

August 2020: Project Veritas Releases Videos Featuring Omar Jamal

In August 2020, Project Veritas released videos featuring Omar Jamal making allegations of voter fraud. Jamal's credibility was subsequently questioned, and he launched a GoFundMe campaign for legal defense and financial support.

September 2020: Project Veritas Promotes Voter Fraud Allegations

In September 2020, Project Veritas promoted the release of material supposedly showing voter fraud, coinciding with a New York Times investigation into Trump's tax returns.

September 2020: Changes to Ballot Harvesting Limits in Minnesota

In September 2020, the limits on ballot harvesting in Minnesota changed, impacting the context of allegations made earlier that year by Project Veritas.

October 26, 2020: National File Publishes Ashley Biden's Diary

On October 26, 2020, the right-wing website National File published the purported contents of Ashley Biden's diary.

2020: Project Veritas Promotes False Voter Fraud Claims

In 2020, Project Veritas promoted false voter fraud claims, leading to a defamation lawsuit in 2021 and a settlement in February 2024.

2020: NY Times Exposé Reveals Veritas's Infiltration Tactics

In 2020, The New York Times published an exposé detailing how Project Veritas used spies to infiltrate various groups opposed to the Trump agenda, raising concerns about their tactics and connections to the Trump administration.

2020: New Hampshire Voter Fraud Case Reopened

In 2020, the New Hampshire State Police investigated the voter fraud case and referred it to the state Attorney General. Project Veritas pursued the matter, resulting in a guilty plea and sentencing in 2020.

2020: Project Veritas Whistleblowers Continue Crowdfunding Efforts

Throughout 2020, Project Veritas whistleblowers continued to utilize crowdfunding platforms to raise funds.

January 13, 2021: Campaign Worker Arrested After Project Veritas Video Release

On January 13, 2021, a former campaign worker was arrested and charged with election tampering after a Project Veritas video appeared to show her assisting an elderly person with a mail-in ballot. The worker claimed she was assisting a relative, which is not unlawful.

January 2021: Project Veritas Releases Recording of PBS Lawyer

In January 2021, Project Veritas released a recording of a PBS lawyer making partisan remarks, leading to the lawyer's resignation.

February 11, 2021: Project Veritas and O'Keefe's Twitter Accounts Suspended

On February 11, 2021, Twitter permanently suspended Project Veritas's account and temporarily locked James O'Keefe's account for violating its private information policy.

March 2021: Postal Service Inspector General Report Debunks Voter Fraud Claims

In March 2021, the Postal Service inspector general released a report debunking voter fraud claims promoted by Project Veritas, including those made by a postal worker who later recanted his statement.

May 2021: Project Veritas Operatives Attempt to Discredit FBI Employees

In May 2021, the New York Times reported that Project Veritas operatives sought to discredit FBI employees and officials perceived as adversaries of President Trump. Women employed by the group reportedly went on dates with FBI employees to secretly record them making disparaging remarks about Trump.

September 2021: Hurricane Ida Destroys Headquarters, Veritas Scammed

In September 2021, Hurricane Ida destroyed Project Veritas's headquarters. The same month, they were victims of a business email compromise scam, losing $165,000.

September 20, 2021: Project Veritas Releases Videos Featuring Nurse Jodi O'Malley

Starting on September 20, 2021, Project Veritas released a series of videos featuring nurse Jodi O'Malley. In the videos, O'Malley and a doctor discuss alleged underreporting of vaccine side effects.

October 6, 2021: Project Veritas Concludes Video Series on Vaccine Concerns

On October 6, 2021, Project Veritas concluded its video series featuring nurse Jodi O'Malley discussing alleged underreporting of vaccine side effects.

November 14, 2021: ACLU Responds to FBI Raids on Project Veritas

On November 14, 2021, the American Civil Liberties Union released a statement regarding the FBI raids on Project Veritas employees.

November 2021: FBI Raids Homes of Project Veritas Employees

In November 2021, the FBI raided the homes of Project Veritas employees as part of an investigation into the theft and publication of Ashley Biden's diary.

December 2021: Judge Appoints Special Master in Project Veritas Case

In December 2021, a federal judge appointed Barbara Jones as a special master to oversee the Justice Department's investigation into Project Veritas, ensuring protection of attorney-client privilege and First Amendment rights.

2021: Postmaster Sues Project Veritas for Defamation

In 2021, a postmaster sued Project Veritas and James O'Keefe for defamation following the promotion of false voter fraud claims related to the 2020 election.

January 2022: Project Veritas Uses GiveSendGo for Fundraising

In January 2022, it was reported that Project Veritas used the Christian crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo to raise money for its whistleblowers.

March 2022: Project Veritas Alleges Justice Department Subversion of First Amendment Rights

In March 2022, Project Veritas claimed that the Justice Department had violated its First Amendment rights by secretly seizing internal emails and issuing gag orders to Microsoft.

August 2022: Individuals Plead Guilty to Stealing Ashley Biden's Diary

In August 2022, Aimee Harris and Robert Kurlander pleaded guilty to stealing Ashley Biden's diary and selling it to Project Veritas. They agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department's ongoing investigation.

September 2022: Project Veritas Found Guilty of Wiretapping, Misrepresentation

In September 2022, a jury found Project Veritas guilty of wiretapping and misrepresentation against Democracy Partners, awarding $120,000 in damages. Project Veritas planned to appeal.

November 2022: Project Veritas's Twitter Account Restored

Project Veritas's Twitter account was reinstated in November 2022 after Elon Musk acquired the platform.

2022: Project Veritas Found Guilty of Fraudulent Misrepresentation

A jury found Project Veritas guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation against Democracy Partners in 2022, resulting in a $120,000 award against the group.

2022: Project Veritas's Claim to First Amendment Protections Challenged

Following the 2022 FBI raid, Project Veritas claimed First Amendment protections as a news media organization. However, prosecutors argued that they did not meet the criteria for such protections.

January 2023: Project Veritas Releases Undercover Video of Alleged Pfizer Executive

In January 2023, Project Veritas released a video of a man identified as a Pfizer executive discussing the mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

February 2023: O'Keefe's Departure from Project Veritas

In February 2023, James O'Keefe was removed from his leadership role at Project Veritas amidst controversy.

February 2023: O'Keefe Fired, Veritas Suspends Operations

Project Veritas fired James O'Keefe in February 2023 due to alleged financial malfeasance. Later, in September 2023, the organization suspended all its operations and laid off most of its employees.

February 20, 2023: O'Keefe Removed from Leadership Amid Allegations

On February 20, 2023, James O'Keefe was ousted from his leadership role at Project Veritas due to allegations of financial mismanagement and mistreatment of staff.

June 2023: Hannah Giles Appointed and Resigns as CEO

Hannah Giles took over as CEO of Project Veritas in June 2023, replacing James O'Keefe, but resigned in December of the same year citing "evidence of past illegality and past financial improprieties."

September 2023: Project Veritas Suspends Operations, Lays Off Employees

In September 2023, following the firing of founder James O'Keefe, Project Veritas suspended all operations and laid off a significant portion of its staff.

September 2023: Project Veritas Suspends All Operations

Project Veritas suspended all its operations in September 2023 and laid off most of its staff.

2023: Project Veritas Settles Lawsuits

In 2023, Project Veritas settled lawsuits related to underpayment of employees and sexual harassment allegations, totaling $270,000.

2023: Project Veritas Footage Used in Documentary

In 2023, footage from a Project Veritas undercover video was included in the anti-vaccine film "Final Days".

February 2024: O'Keefe and Project Veritas Settle Defamation Lawsuit

In February 2024, James O'Keefe and Project Veritas settled a defamation lawsuit filed by a postmaster, with O'Keefe admitting there was no evidence of election fraud at the Erie Post Office during the 2020 election.