Finally, Someone is Challenging Media Bullies in Court

We grew up knowing our parents would punish us if we did something wrong. If it involved lying or picking on a playmate we’d have to apologize for it. So, how about applying the same notion to Big Tech and Big Media?

More and more people who feel unfairly characterized or canceled by these two public opinion influencer groups are turning to the grown-up version of punishment – the lawsuit.

The latest such suits were filed by James O’Keefe, the conservative founder of the investigative reporting group Project Veritas.

The backstory: In February, two Twitter accounts associated with the Project were permanently canceled for what the site called “repeated violations of privacy.” More recently, O’Keefe’s personal Twitter account was permanently yanked.

James O'Keefe speaking with attendees at the 2018 Student Action Summit hosted by Turning Point USA at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Photo by: Gage Skidmore
O’Keefe: Big Tech & Media Defamed Him on Political Grounds

The first ban came after PV leaked video clips of a meeting with Facebook executives called to discuss the platform’s censorship policy. Then one of PV’s reporters confronted Facebook’s Guy Rosen, the Vice President of Integrity, outside his home and asked for further clarification. Visible in the background were the address numbers on Rosen’s house but no street name was seen. Is this a violation of privacy?

In April, another banishment came after O’Keefe used his personal account to announce the Project’s #ExposeCNN campaign. He released undercover video of a CNN employee, technical director Charlie Chester, admitting the network’s news coverage is tainted by liberal politics. Chester was filmed saying the network deliberately aired anti-Trump “propaganda” to “get Trump out of office”, played up the Covid-19 death toll “for ratings” and ran stories “trying to help” the Black Lives Matter movement.

Twitter then permanently banned O’Keefe’s saying he violated rules by misleading people and “operating fake accounts” that “artificially amplify or disrupt conversations.” Just how releasing videos of a CNN staffer describing the network’s inner workings constitutes a disruption of conversation isn’t clear and Twitter did not identify any fake accounts O’Keefe operated.

Quotes from Project Veritas's undercover video of CNN staffer Charlie  Chester - footage taken during Tinder "dates" with a PV reporter.
Graphic Courtesy of Project Veritas

O’Keefe’s lawsuit says Twitter’s accusations are “extremely damaging to his reputation” and amount to libel. He’s also suing CNN because anchor Ana Cabrera erroneously reported the ban on Project Veritas came as part of a “crackdown to try to stop the spread of misinformation.”

“Perhaps the greatest irony here is everyone in the media accuses us of misinformation when that is precisely what they do,” O’Keefe said and he vowed not to back down.

“We don’t settle,” O’Keefe said about the dual lawsuits. “We fight all the way to a jury verdict, and we have never lost.”

Case in point, last week a New York Supreme Court Judge handed Project Veritas a major victory in its defamation fight against the New York Times.

Last year Project Veritas (Latin for “truth”) published an investigation into allegations of voter fraud in Minneapolis. It featured online selfie-videos made by a Somali-American campaign worker bragging about illegally harvesting hundreds of absentee ballots spread out on the dashboard of his car. They also interviewed others, including a well-connected political consultant in the Somali American community who said there was widespread corruption among that “clan” in Minneapolis. In a series of articles, the Times declared the videos were deliberately “deceptive,” part of a “coordinated campaign of deception” against Somali-born Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and relied on “unidentified sources.” (An odd claim for a newspaper that frequently uses unnamed sources.) O’Keefe insists those statements were libelous and defamed his reputation.

wikimedia commons photo
The Times Defense: “Opinion” in a News Story is Acceptable

Last week the newspaper asked the New York Supreme court to dismiss the lawsuit, but Judge Charles Wood ruled that the Times might very well have committed “actual malice” and shown “reckless disregard” for the truth. He declared the suit will go forward.

Does Project Veritas engage in controversial techniques? Unconventional, maybe. But this is a group that dares to report what other news organizations don’t. If someone is flagrantly violating voter laws I want to know about it. If Facebook, Twitter, CNN and others in the public square routinely show bias against certain schools of thought I want to know about that too. Who appointed them as the arbiters of civic discourse?

I want to read and learn about all sorts of viewpoints and then decide for myself what to believe and what to dismiss. It’s high time someone turned to the courts to determine what constitutes biased reporting and publishing and what doesn’t.

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43 Comments

  1. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 10:17 am

    Sharon Rager writes:

    VERY good article on Veritas. I needed clarification and facts. Thanks

  2. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 10:17 am

    Robert Tepper writes:

    Hi Diane:

    Great piece on this topic….we NEED MORE of this effort…good job! Let’s hope they are successful now and in the future!

    Regards,

    Robert Tepper
    Albuquerque, NM

  3. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 10:23 am

    wizguru writes:

    Hello, again,

    Your latest column on Project Veritas is very disappointing. PV and James O’Keefe are clearly nothing but mouthpieces for Trump and QAnon.
    I am glad Twitter permanently cancelled them, and I hope that they lose against the written press as well. Are there not enough intentionally false, ridiculous and very dangerous lies and conspiracy theories propagated Online as it is! You failed to point out that just because something has “veritas” in its name does not mean that it speaks the truth – usually the opposite is implied – if it spoke the truth then it would not need to have “veritas” in its name. I believe that your column is just a sneaky and devious end run attempt to get
    Trump reinstated on Twitter – clearly your real motive for the column.

    • Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 10:25 am

      Diane replies to wizguru,

      I can assure you my “real motive” is not to get the former president reinstated on Twitter. My real motive is to promote truthful and unbiased journalism.

  4. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 10:42 am

    Thomas Steele writes:

    Our first amendment is precious. We MUST protect and keep it a top priority. ALL of this amendment is critical at this time in America.

  5. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 10:44 am

    williamboylan1958 writes:

    FB’s vice president of integrity … Now, that is laughable!

  6. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 11:04 am

    Max James writes:

    Many adults will remember a time not so long ago, when journalists gained national and international praise for their work exposing truths. Truths that in many cases could have only been uncovered by using techniques that are condemned by enemies of truth and made to appear as ‘controversial’ or ‘unconventional’ by the sheer lack of truth seeking by the media.

  7. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 11:04 am

    Patriot Heart writes:

    Kudos Mr. O’Keefe for having the testicular fortitude for taking the initial steps to punch these numbskulls to oblivion.

  8. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 11:05 am

    Kelly D writes:

    Spot on, Dimond! Used to be that news orgs primarily provided facts and left the decisions about what to believe and how to respond to its public, which is the proper role of ethical journalism. But for malicious motivations like profit, CNN, The NY Times, Facebook, and it peer MSM and SM disregard all required ethics of this public service profession. These shameless purveyors of slander need to be dismantled, lawsuit by lawsuit.

  9. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 11:06 am

    Andrew Wilson writes:

    I have and will continue to support project veritas!

  10. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 11:08 am

    Karl Mehlig writes:

    Ultimately, the market place should be the final arbiter as to whether these media concerns stay in business. Unfortunately, too much of the populace has been dumbed down by the legalization of recreational dope and their addiction to their smart phones to pay attention.

  11. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 11:09 am

    jeff topps writes:

    CBS’s “60 Minutes” perfected the art of the “hit-and-run” gotcha interview of people they didn’t like. Project Veritas doesn’t run after people demanding answers. They sit down with these people and they spill the beans. Big difference.

  12. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 11:09 am

    Ray writes:

    The states need to handle the bias in the media( the Feds won’t). They need to enact Liable laws with teeth. Allow people and organizations to sue for very large sums of money.
    If it has the possibility of bankrupting their media outlet if they report BS, then they will think twice about doing it. The media should have no ability to lie about anyone, without very stiff penalties.

  13. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 11:09 am

    An American Citizen writes:

    There will soon be a legal definition of “news” vs “entertainment” and we will see a differentiation similar to over-the-counter vitamins and herbs vs prescription medicine. The word “News” will be permitted only in a narrow definition.

    • Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 11:10 am

      DD replies:

      An interesting concept. However, I’m not sure that will ever make it into law books.

  14. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 11:10 am

    God is good! Writes:

    What I want to know is why any American wants socialism instead of a free society? Don’t these companies owners know that when the feds have all of the power, they will lose their private corporations. I’m so glad that Project Veritas is fighting for the truth! Open your eyes citizens!

  15. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:20 pm

    d.mounts writes:

    Because they mail read and watch corporate media.
    You know – CNN. ABC,NBC, CBS, PBS, NY Times, Wash Post.
    They lie so often it is pathetic.
    So, the people who depend on that garbage can’t/won’t think for themselves or verify the garbage these orgs are putting out.

  16. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:21 pm

    Dwayne Gaskin writes:

    I believe using the courts should be the last resort. What needs to be done to stop this narrative from the media, rests upon the public. Calling out these so called reporters, and the flat out lies they continue to use, is what we should be doing. Until the public starts refusing to watch or listen to the talking heads who push narrative to keep us divided and ignorant to the facts, nothing will change.

  17. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:21 pm

    Cotraveler writes:

    Diane Dimond hit this on the head. Enough with self-interest liars controlling our free speech discourse!! Remember liberals, survival of the fittest!

  18. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:21 pm

    Adorecreatures writes:

    Mr. O’Keefe, thank you for your bravery.

  19. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:22 pm

    Ghada Dropadoos writes:

    One thing we can do is criminalize defamation in all 50 states. Right now it’s a criminal offense in only 17 or 18. We’ll get a better class of reporter and editor when we establish that if you publish something bad about someone and it’s not true, you do time in the slammer.

  20. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:22 pm

    Lisa Phillips writes:

    Go O’Keefe!!

  21. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:22 pm

    Luke writes:

    If anyone can, it’s worth donating on the Veritas page to help their legal fight. Worth every penny.

  22. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:23 pm

    eric price writes:

    Project Veritas keep REPORTING ON TRUTH!
    DONATED

  23. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:23 pm

    canoe_39 writes:

    I have long been a fan of Project Veritas and James O’Keefe. I hope he and his group are able to continue putting a stick in the eye of the liars.

  24. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:24 pm

    DonnaDee Day writes:

    I want to know too. My small town newspaper has NEVER been what anyone would call “non biased”. In fact, neither has our local television stations. However, they are head and shoulders better at reporting than social media and main stream news (I forget what term we’re using for POS news now). God bless the Epoch Times for bringing stories like this to the fore. And Project Veritas for their courageous investigations.

  25. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:24 pm

    SoCali writes:

    The argument that FaceBook, Twitter, etc. are private companies is a mute point, they need to have a”real” accountability.
    Not the “fake” biased, integrity & blocking.
    The situation would be different if everyone was still reading a newspaper or the like. Majority if not all receive info from social media & all Americans should have a voice!
    I hope the Supreme Court Justices will truly stand steadfast on our Constitutional Rights.
    O’Keefe, “I don’t consider myself a conservative but a fact finder.
    If that makes me conservative than so be it.”
    “Blowing the Whistle on Big Tech” ~ The Epoch Times

  26. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:24 pm

    gerrilanter1965 writes:

    Google is brainwashing people,
    too. It pushes articles to the top that discredit anything negative about the left, and Google hypes up any article that spins false narratives about any thing the right does correctly, and exaggerates false claims about Trump, Guliani, whomever is actually credible.
    It’s sick!

  27. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:25 pm

    Shirley Black writes:

    Great article. I remember when the news reported facts and not opinions. They used to use great caution to be unbiased. Their only agenda was to report verified facts. Wish those ethics would return.

  28. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:25 pm

    Dan DuBois writes:

    This is the kind of reporting news organizations used to do when there was real investigative reporting.

  29. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:25 pm

    George Kofman writes

    James O’Keefe is in a class by himself, just like Andy Ngo with Anтиfа investigative reporting.
    If not for hard core “special forces” of investigative journalists like James O’Keefe of Project Veritas, the only source of unbiased news left are Epoch Times and 2 domestic (OAN, Newnax-sort of ) plus foreign channels and 60-70% reality-based English language (Russian) RT.com and (anti-Israeli slanted) Al-Jazeera.
    Welcome to new normal. The Republic is dead. Long live the Socialist States of N. America.

  30. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:26 pm

    Voter writes:

    Excellent essay.
    We’ve all seen the movie:
    Renegade stumbles on the truth of a massive conspiracy, thwarted at every turn, discredited by everyone. made into a pariah, yet soldiers on until the truth is known.
    YAY for the good guys!

  31. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:26 pm

    Leonardo Gambardella writes:

    Good for you young man. Kick some @$$ and expose these anti American corporations.
    I hope your case will set a precedent for many more lawsuits.

  32. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:26 pm

    Nancy Robinson writes:

    It’s outrageous, first of all, to shut down POTUS from the people. Whoever heard of such a thing. It felt all wrong to be so disrespectful. It’s very depressing what has happened to America. We’re not perfect but I still thank God everyday I was born here!

  33. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:27 pm

    Sglemaster writes:

    Project Veritas is the bomb! And James O’Keefe is a PATRIOT ❤️

  34. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:27 pm

    bolivia170 writes:

    I went to their page project veritas and donated as the lawsuits are not cheap.
    they are fighting FAKE news media and they need support. ❤️ O’keefe

  35. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:27 pm

    Shagerrn writes:

    Praying Veritas wins both suits. It is the only way we will get integrity back in MSM reporting.

  36. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 12:27 pm

    CriticalThinking? Writes:

    It is time to stand with contempt against the double standard the main stream media has embraced.

  37. Diane Dimond on May 3, 2021 at 2:01 pm

    Larry Rice writes:

    If you’re in the business of reporting news and not opinions then ask yourself this.
    If the same decisions/bills/laws/executive orders were issued by a GOP led congress and a Trump administration – would you be reporting it as happily and writing stories in the same manner as you are with the Democrats in Congress and the Biden administration??
    That’s the difference between true journalism and a sycophant media.
    Keep up the good fight Diane!!!

  38. Diane Dimond on May 4, 2021 at 4:02 pm

    Lisa writes:

    Am I the only one who feels like main stream media is a one-sided propaganda machine producing lies in their efforts to deceive the masses into hating conservatives & republicans? If this works (and it seems to be) then only one party will hold power with no opposition. Why no opposition? Because anyone publicly opposing them will be slandered by the press & the government, labeled racists, fired from their jobs, will lose their homes, receive death threats, etc.
    I think a lot of Americans want to fight back but are afraid to because they’ve seen what happens to those who try.

  39. Diane Dimond on May 4, 2021 at 4:02 pm

    Mark Correale writes:

    So the liars hiding behind the First Amendment want to suppress real, truthful reporting? Wow, what a state we are in.

  40. Diane Dimond on May 4, 2021 at 4:05 pm

    gwepema gwepema writes:

    The various forms of media in so called ‘free’ nations have stretched the meaning and effect of ‘free’ speech beyond recognition.
    Freedom of speech now means freedom to lie, distort, misinform, propagandise, obstruct, de-platform and cancel while protected from blowback by partisan government, cowardly judges and expensive lawyers.
    Project Veritas is a noble endeavour and I wish them success-they deserve our respect and support.

  41. Diane Dimond on May 4, 2021 at 4:06 pm

    Thomas Steele writes:

    Our first amendment is precious. We MUST protect and keep it a top priority. ALL of this amendment is critical at this time in America.

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