It was the split that absolutely nobody in the conservative media world saw coming. One minute, James O'Keefe was the face of Project Veritas, the guy in the tactical vest or the goofy costume taking down massive institutions with a hidden camera. The next, he was out. Gone. Booted from the very house he built.
If you’ve been following the drama, you know it wasn't a clean break. It was more like a messy divorce played out via leaked memos and frantic Twitter (now X) videos. Since that chaotic February in 2023, people have been asking the same question: What actually happened to James O'Keefe and Project Veritas, and where are they now?
Honestly, the story is weirder than the undercover stings themselves.
The Blowup: What Actually Went Down?
Most people think O’Keefe just walked away, but the reality is way more corporate and way more brutal. The Board of Directors at Project Veritas basically staged a coup. They put out this massive memo—I’m talking 11 pages long—filled with grievances from staffers. They called him a "power-drunk tyrant."
🔗 Read more: What Really Happened With the Trump Zelensky Meeting
They didn't just stop at his personality, though. They went for the throat regarding finances. We’re talking allegations of spending donor money on things like:
- $150,000 on luxury black-car services over 18 months.
- A $12,000 helicopter ride from New York to Maine.
- Thousands spent on a "DJ equipment" hobby.
- Charter flights to fix his private boat.
O'Keefe, for his part, didn't just take it sitting down. He posted a 45-minute video from his office—while he was being pushed out—basically saying the board was trying to destroy the mission because he was getting too close to the "big guys" (like Pfizer). It was high drama.
The Pfizer "Elephant" in the Room
You can't talk about the James O'Keefe Project Veritas split without talking about the Pfizer video. Just weeks before he was ousted, Veritas released footage of a Pfizer executive named Jordon Trishton Walker. In the clip, Walker seemingly discussed "directed evolution" of viruses to keep the vaccine business booming.
It was a massive hit. Millions of views.
O'Keefe’s supporters are convinced to this day that the Pfizer sting was the real reason the board turned on him. They think the "black car" stuff was just a convenient excuse to get rid of a guy who was becoming too radioactive for big-money donors. Whether that's true or just a convenient narrative depends on who you ask, but the timing was definitely... interesting.
Project Veritas Without O'Keefe: A Ghost Ship?
After James left, things didn't exactly go great for Project Veritas. They tried to replace him with Hannah Giles, who was actually the woman in the original ACORN pimp-and-prostitute video that made James famous back in 2009.
It didn't last. Giles lasted about six months before quitting and calling the whole organization an "unsalvageable mess." She even mentioned finding evidence of past "illegality."
By late 2023, the group had laid off almost its entire staff. They stopped fundraising. They were basically a ghost ship floating in a sea of lawsuits. In early 2024, they even had to admit in court that they had "no evidence" for a specific 2020 voter fraud claim they’d made in Pennsylvania. That was a huge blow to their credibility.
✨ Don't miss: Statistics on Black on White Crime: Why the Raw Data Is So Frequently Misunderstood
Enter OMG: O'Keefe Media Group
James didn't stay quiet for long. He founded O'Keefe Media Group (OMG) almost immediately. He took the "guerrilla journalism" model and tried to scale it up. His new pitch? "Citizen Journalism."
Basically, he's trying to build an army of regular people with hidden cameras. It's a "give a man a fish vs. teach him to fish" kind of vibe. He’s still doing the undercover stuff, too—targeting Disney, the CIA, and various government agencies.
But it hasn't been all smooth sailing. Project Veritas sued him for breach of contract, claiming he stole their donor lists and used company funds to start OMG. It’s been a legal nightmare for everyone involved.
The Legal Battles You Should Know About
If you think this is just a YouTube feud, you're wrong. There are real-world legal stakes here that could change how undercover journalism works in America.
The Oregon Recording Case
For years, Project Veritas fought an Oregon law that made it a crime to record someone without their informed consent. In 2023, a federal court actually struck that law down, saying it violated the First Amendment. But then the court decided to rehear the case "en banc" (meaning with all the judges), and as of 2024/2025, the legal status of secret recording is still being hammered out in the Ninth Circuit.
The Biden Diary Saga
Then there’s the FBI. Agents raided O'Keefe's home a few years back over the diary of Ashley Biden (the President's daughter). Prosecutors were looking into whether the diary was stolen. While O'Keefe hasn't been charged with a crime in that case, the legal fallout has cost a fortune in attorney fees and has been a constant cloud over his work.
What Most People Get Wrong
People tend to see O'Keefe as either a "hero of truth" or a "fake news provocateur." The truth is usually somewhere in the middle.
His editing style is undeniably aggressive. He uses music and quick cuts to build a narrative. Critics say he takes people out of context. Supporters say he’s the only one willing to use the tactics of the "left" against them.
What people miss is that Project Veritas wasn't just James. It was a massive operation with dozens of trained "operatives." When James left, he didn't just take his personality; he took the brand. Without him, the donors didn't know who they were giving money to.
Why This Matters for 2026 and Beyond
As we head deeper into this decade, the "O'Keefe model" is becoming the standard for a certain type of media. You see it on TikTok, on X, and in citizen-led investigative groups.
The James O'Keefe Project Veritas breakup was the end of an era for centralized "undercover" groups. Now, it's decentralized. It's messier. It's harder to sue because it's everywhere.
Actionable Insights for the Media-Savy
If you're trying to navigate this landscape, here's how to stay sharp:
- Watch the Raw Footage: Whenever OMG or Veritas (if they’re still active) releases a "bombshell," look for the unedited clips. James usually uploads them eventually. That's where the real context lives.
- Follow the Filings: If you want the truth about why these groups succeed or fail, look at their 990 tax forms. It tells you exactly where the money goes—and whether it’s going to "black cars" or actual reporting.
- Know Your State Laws: If you're inspired by the "citizen journalist" movement, be careful. Recording laws vary wildly. In some states, you're a hero; in others, you're a felon.
The story of James O'Keefe and Project Veritas isn't over—it’s just transformed. Whether he can rebuild the same level of influence with OMG remains to be seen, but the shockwaves of his exit are still being felt across the entire political spectrum.