General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJudge Says O'Keefe's Project Veritas Is 'Political Spying'
A federal judge has dealt conservative figure James OKeefe a legal blow, ruling that his groups undercover operations against a Democratic consulting firm can fairly be described at an upcoming million-dollar trial as political spying.
Making matters worse for the right-wing star, the judge cited OKeefes own book as evidence against him.
In 2016, Allison Maass, an operative for OKeefes Project Veritas group, took an internship at Democratic firm Democracy Partners under a fake name. While staffers at the firm thought Maass was working to elect Democrats in the 2016 campaign, she was secretly recording them and relaying undercover video and notes on the group to Project Veritas. Project Veritas eventually released the video, prompting Democracy Partners founder Robert Creamer to step back from the Hillary Clinton campaign.
Creamer and Democracy Partners sued Project Veritas in 2017 over the sting. Now, with the trial set for December, OKeefes lawyers wanted to preemptively prevent the plaintiffs lawyers from describing Project Veritass work in court as political spying.
In an Oct. 14 court opinion, though, U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Friedman ruled that its reasonable to describe OKeefes groups actions in that way.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/judge-rules-james-okeefes-project-veritas-is-political-spying?ref=home
______________________________________________________
About damn time, I'd say!
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)O'Keefe splices together clips out of context to paint completely false versions of events.
soldierant
(7,005 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)These clowns splice videos to make people appear to say things they didn't say, or put them in a context that completely alters their meaning. It's all a lie.
soldierant
(7,005 posts)and, knowong what they want them to appear to have said, they lead them into conversations which can be cut and spliced to appear that they said it. It resembles a sting in that way.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Basically a fake version of a sting.
soldierant
(7,005 posts)MagickMuffin
(16,004 posts)Hopefully it will put an end to O'Keefe.
jimfields33
(16,258 posts)Response to jimfields33 (Reply #3)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
mopinko
(70,440 posts)that's jan schakowsky's hubs. dude has a target on his back.
not well known by dems, but the wingnuts all know him.
bucolic_frolic
(43,614 posts)Spying is unauthorized theft. Assuming a fake ID to spy too. If you're not up to no good, why the false ID? It's not like this is an ex-employee NDA violation.
Fla Dem
(23,950 posts)Last edited Mon Oct 25, 2021, 01:59 PM - Edit history (1)
I understand gov't spying cannot be done without the appropriate court OK. But is one non-governmental group spying on another non-governmental organization also illegal? Isn't this done all the time? Such as one spouse hiring a PI to spy on their spouse. Or an employer having cameras in a facility to spy on their employees? Or a business spying on another business.
I'm certainly nor advocating for any type of spying. Just don't know where the line is drawn between legal and illegal. And I realize the person or organization being spied on can always sue as in this case, but can they also be arrested and tried for spying, I did try to find the answer, but mostly results referred to governmental spying, espionage and surveillance.
bucolic_frolic
(43,614 posts)You can't be working (or volunteering, or contracting) for a company or organization and expect to be feeding info to competitors. You do sign an employment agreement with lots of legalese. Maybe it varies a bit state to state too, depending on which methods you use.
DBoon
(22,450 posts)Trade secrets can be broadly defined
Whistle-blowing involves disclosure of possible criminal activity to appropriate authorities. Criminal activity is not considered a protected trade secret.
https://www.dbllawyers.com/whistleblower-immunity-and-the-defend-trade-secrets-act/
I'm not a lawyer, and any lawyer who wants to correct these statements is welcome to do so.
ProfessorGAC
(65,568 posts)I've been retired 3 years and there are parts of my own work I'm not legally allowed to divulge, even now.
And, surreptitious methods used to obtain inside information are almost always considered unlawful.
The law was explained in detail every few years to us.
LeftInTX
(25,922 posts)Some campaigns will hire anyone off the street...They work as poll greeters and very low level positions. Job is temporary, but access is enough to do some spying.
Now if the person was a field director, then it's a different story.
It happens.
Note that she was hired using a fake name...How did that happen????
LeftInTX
(25,922 posts)Probably no disclosure agreement signed or anything...No background check etc.
young_at_heart
(3,779 posts)Why has it taken so long?
2Gingersnaps
(1,000 posts)Shortly after the 2020 elections, he died July, 2016. Wheels of Justice.😔
KS Toronado
(17,551 posts)We'd all like to see Qrump behind bars before the midterms on account of Jan 6th, but I seriously doubt
we'll see that happen. There's no doubt he'll get there eventually as long as we keep pursuing it. And
keep a positive attitude about him ending up there, instead of a rich people always skate opinion.
GoCubsGo
(32,116 posts)Jilly_in_VA
(10,045 posts)I can't figure out why the little slimeball isn't wearing and orange jumpsuit and flip flops either.
2Gingersnaps
(1,000 posts)of Roger Stone and Paul Manafort. And they were just smacked on the hand for a life of crime.
Response to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)
jfz9580m This message was self-deleted by its author.
ToxMarz
(2,170 posts)For the government to do I can see where it would be, but unless its illegal for him his supporters/followers won't care what anyone calls it. Just a means to an end.
LeftInTX
(25,922 posts)But the fact that she was hired using a fake name is weird.
According to the Huffpost, she was a volunteer, so no credentials or NDA involved.
Just a volunteer....So, she could get away with the fake name thing.
gab13by13
(21,573 posts)but I would love to punch that fucking punk right in the face, and fuck you Bill Maher, you too. In the octagon of course.
hlthe2b
(102,637 posts)Good!
tanyev
(42,721 posts)LeftInTX
(25,922 posts)FakeNoose
(33,005 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(146,209 posts)This lawsuit will be fun to watch
Grins
(7,291 posts)Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,632 posts)As I like to call it. Just as stinky.
Kick in to the DU tip jar?
This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.
As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.