Bizarre, Criminal law, Media

FBI Raids Project Veritas Writers . . . Over A Missing Biden Diary?

There is a curious story out this weekend on reported FBI raids of writers or associates of Project Veritas, the conservative investigative journalism outfit. Project Veritas has been described variously as “Gonzo” or “guerilla” journalism and some insist it is more of a political than a press organization. However, it fits the definition of journalism, in my view, and that makes the raids troubling. All the more troubling is the cause: the missing diary of President Biden’s daughter Ashley. [Update: The FBI reportedly also raided O’Keefe’s home]

The New York Times reported that the FBI searched two locations in New York in search of the “stolen” diary that went missing days before the 2020 presidential election. Project founder James O’Keefe questioned how the Times received the story within an hour of the first raid.

O’Keefe says that the organization actually received a tip that the diary was abandoned in a room, an allegation that harkened back to the abandoned laptop of Hunter Biden.  However, Ashley reportedly insisted it was stolen.

The use of the FBI is also reminiscent of the still unexplained use of the FBI when Joe Biden was Vice President to search for a gun owned by Hunter Biden that was discarded behind a restaurant.

Project Veritas decided not to run the story because it could not verify that the diary belonged to Biden. (The FBI may have just offered that confirmation). Instead, it alerted the police, according to O’Keefe: “Project Veritas gave the diary to law enforcement to ensure it could be returned to its rightful owner. We never published it.”

So why the raids?  Since when does the FBI conducted raids over missing diaries?

The FBI can cite the interstate elements of the alleged theft as raising a federal crime. However, what is the crime? It is not clear if they are suggesting that the responsible parties were seeking to sell the diary or that there was some national security element (which would be bizarre since Biden’s daughter was writing before her father ever became president).

Journalist organizations are routinely given material removed from businesses, agencies, or private owners without permission by confidential sources. If this is a federal crime subject to FBI raids, what happened to the new media policies of the Biden Administration after the Tucker Carlson controversy?

There are a host of unanswered questions. Here are five to start with:

  1. What was the context for the diary’s loss? (Did Ashley Biden leave the diary in a room or was it stolen?)
  2. What is the alleged federal crime (and what is the precedent for a major federal investigation over such an alleged theft)?
  3. What precautions were taken by the Biden Administration in light of the claimed media status of the targeted individuals?
  4. Why was there a delay in this action being taken if the alleged theft occurred a year ago?
  5. Has this matter been under investigation for a year and did the White House request the intervention of the FBI?

Regardless of how one feels about Project Veritas, there should be calls from media outlets for some answers to these basic questions.  Likewise, Congress should be seeking such answers as part of its oversight responsibilities.

373 thoughts on “FBI Raids Project Veritas Writers . . . Over A Missing Biden Diary?”

  1. People who merely walked around the Capitol on January 6 are still in prison.

    Alec Baldwin literally killed someone and he hasn’t even been charged.

  2. That stench of a police state emanates from Garland’s DOJ.

    Republicans who dissent are smeared as “white supremacists.” Parents who dissent are deemed “domestic terrorists.” Prominent journalists who dissent are raided for something-or-other.

    Quislings notwithstanding, something reeks here.

  5. The “Fetchit Bureau” (from Turley’s admonition), aka the FBI, are now water-carriers for the most bloated in the corrupted establishment.

    If, for instance, someone was explicitly threatened, blackmailed, etc., by, let’s say, the Clintons or someone in the Biden camp — who would they go to? Certainly not the FBI, which would surely target and intimidate the victim.

    This same thug organization spearheaded the Russia collusion hoax.

    It’s very backwards.

  6. Now Biden’s approval rating stands at 38%. I wonder, if they took a poll what the approval rating for the FBI would be. Your estimations should be published on this forum. Feel free to join in.

    1. “Now Biden’s approval rating stands at 38%.”

      The good news for him is that he’s 10 points higher than the Cackling Queen.

  7. Yes Turley, you actually find yourself here attempting to referee (with a bias toward your employer) a Tucker Carlson vs. Ashley Biden dispute being played out in tabloid media. Living the dream aren’t ya???

    1. It should be of concern to all citizens of our democracy if the FBI has become a partisan tool no matter what the politics are. Thus starts the slow slide into tyranny.

    3. So Anonymous, some one gives the diary to Project Veritas and they proceed to not publish it because they can’t confirm the ownership and they give it to the police. Wouldn’t it have been nice if Buzz Feed wouldn’t have published the Steel dossier because they couldn’t confirm it and they would have given it to the police. Oh wait, they published it even when it was not confirmed and they gave it to the FBI who never confirmed it but used it to get a FISA warrant. Sorry. My bad.

      1. ThinkitThrough says:

        “Wouldn’t it have been nice if Buzz Feed wouldn’t have published the Steel dossier because they couldn’t confirm it and they would have given it to the police. Oh wait, they published it even when it was not confirmed….”

        The same could be said about Turley’s Fox News. The prime time hosts broadcasted that the election was stolen BEFORE it was confirmed by evidence of massive fraud. That reckless conduct has resulted in billion dollar defamation lawsuits by Smartmatic and Dominion.

        In addition, Turley’s Fox News cancelled Lou Dobbs’ program AND banned any Trumpist lawyers from appearing on Fox. It’s amusing that Turley has NEVER criticized his employer for censoring Dobbs and the Trumpist lawyers.

        Nor have any you Trumpists EVER condemned Turley for NOT denouncing Fox for censoring these Trumpists for claiming that the election was stolen.

        Not only are you Trumpists liars, you are hypocrites as well. Go on, chastise Turley and Fox for banning Dobbs, Giuliani and Powell. I’m waiting….

        1. “Nor have any you Trumpists EVER condemned Turley for NOT denouncing Fox for censoring these Trumpists for claiming that the election was stolen.”

          Why should anyone condemn Truly for that action which Turley doesn’t own. The argument you are making is rather stupid.

        3. Independent voter who voted neither for Hillary nor the 45th president.
          Fox News has not lashed itself so wholeheartedly to the previous president as your espouse. There have been multiple occasions where they have not toed the Trump line.
          A few examples: They called Arizona for Biden farcsooner than any other outlet. Chris Wallace moderating the presidential debate drew heavy criticism from the republican candidate.
          Just to add these points as well, Mike Lindell was not allowed to promote on Fox for his documentary on the fraud, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich was roundly stuff down for mentioning George Soros.
          That being said, reporting on the activies/opinions of newsmakers is the purpose for news organizations regardless of their political leanings.
          After all, they reported on Hillary’s claims her election had been stolen as well as Stacey Abrams’ claims concerning the Georgia election for Governor. It was news to report their claims, but not Tumps? C’mon man!

          1. Tony,

            You must be new to these parts. Unlike most people here, you gave an intelligent and fact-filled reply instead of calling me an “American Marxist” or some other attack of me. That’s refreshing! Thanks!

            Everything you stated was true; however, Fox is being sued for defaming Smartmatic and Dominion for deliberately or indifferently broadcasting falsehoods. We’ll have to wait to see what will become of these lawsuits.

            You say:

            “That being said, reporting on the activies/opinions of newsmakers is the purpose for news organizations regardless of their political leanings.
            After all, they reported on Hillary’s claims her election had been stolen as well as Stacey Abrams’ claims concerning the Georgia election for Governor. It was news to report their claims, but not Trumps?”

            It’s one thing to simply report that a candidate is claiming something that is (or may be) untrue- that is newsworthy; it’s quite another to adopt those untrue claims and promote them as if they are true (or indifferent that they may be false). That’s the crux of the defamation lawsuits.

            Fox News has a journalistic duty to investigate the credibility of the persons and their claims prior to allowing them to be broadcast. The question is whether the Fox producers undertook any due diligence to resolve their doubts about these claims of massive voter fraud before allowing these persons to repeat them on air. The jury will have to decide if Fox acted in good faith in spreading these falsehoods; that is, was it an honest mistake on its part or, rather, were the Fox hosts engaged in the sort of “advocacy journalism” that Turley denounces at Fox’s media competitors on the Left but never on the Right, i.e., Newsmax, OAN, etc.

            I suspect Fox canned Lou Dobbs because he clearly crossed that line, and Fox needed to demonstrate that fact. It’s also telling that Fox has completely ceased mentioning the Big Lie ever since it has been sued as well as banning Trumpist liars from appearing on the network. Of course, if Fox believed that the election was stolen, there would be no reason to cease broadcasting it, for truth is a defense to defamation. Obviously, Fox doesn’t believe it’s true!

            Hopefully, these election companies will not settle out of court and accept an undisclosed amount of money to buy their silence so that Fox can escape civil liability. It is important to have discovery and a trial to determine the merits of these lawsuits. These cases could be precedent setting in establishing just how circumspect a broadcaster must be to claim that it acted without legal malice in broadcasting a statement of apparent fact.

            1. “Fox is being sued for defaming Smartmatic and Dominion “

              Media companies are in the process of being sued all the time and that includes the NYT and WaPo. A lawyer should know these things, but you apparently don’t. The number of areas where you are proven ignorant or admit your own ignorance is growing fast. You might eventually win an award for ignorance.

    1. How is Julian assange not even mentioned yet on this subject. If they won’t free him, there’s much more of this to come

  9. Nixon was impeached and something like 60 people went to prison for dirty campaign tricks like breaking into his opponents’ psychiatrists office to steal records, breaking into DNC headquarters and stealing stuff.

    So someone stole Hunter Biden’s laptop and now this diary, and these things mysteriously end up in the hands of Rudy Guiliani and Project Veritas? As after Hillary Clinton’s campaign’s emails were stolen the prior election?

    There are a lot of people helping Trump stealing stuff from political opponents. Just like Nixon. The FBI needs to see who is doing all of this and how his goes.

    1. “So someone stole Hunter Biden’s laptop . . .”

      Huh? He abandoned it in a computer repair shop. Druggies do that.

    4. Nobody stole anything. The drugged out Biden kids left them behind. Stop watching CNN, and maybe you will finally see truth…not distorted facts to cover up the lefts corruption.

    5. Nobody has said that the laptop was stolen. Hunter gave it to a computer guy because he had damaged in with water. After months, and numerous attempts to contact Hunter, he looked inside the computer and found all kinds of nefarious things
      And I believe Professor Turley SAID the ‘theft’ of diary is a unresolved issue at this point.
      You assume too much.
      Or maybe you watch CNN

    6. Ummmm, no one stole Hunter’s laptop. He dropped it off at the computer store (evidence is acreceipt with his signature) for repair, and never retrieve it. Also, he admitted on ABC that the laptop could in fact have been his. So, there’s that.

  10. Ahm, the diary was intel planted with Project Veritas so Intel could justify a raid, ?
    veritas had been sneaking under the NSA radar and they needed to be scoured clean and taught a lesson?

  11. In case anybody is still ignorant and/or remains too dense to realize it, the FBI is a thug organization, the American gestapo, the filthiest of the filthy, hypocrites, lowlife enforcers doing the bidding of a thoroughly malevolent and corrupted ruling-class.

    Once you realize that, you’ll stop marveling at the FBI’s “apparent lack of integrity.”

    1. That’s not just bluster talk. For decades the FBI under Hoover behaved like this, but he seemed untouchable (probably because he had a lot of dirt on powerful people). He has been discredited but the system’s behavior remain

    2. My respect for the FBI has diminished. There is something very, very wrong with “business” in DC.

      1. Solving the problem will take at least a decade, so for at least the next 10 years don’t vote for any Democrat local or nationa even if they are running for a non-political office. They use even non-political offices to promote the destruction of America.

    4. Don won institutionalization at Matteawan Psychiatric Institution. You will meet his roommate below.

    5. The FBI is a POLITICAL organization. Instead of worrying about Chinese theft of industrial, national security information, they are a tool of the ‘democrat’ party. They initiated the Witmer attempted ‘kidnapping’. They pretended to believe the Steele dossier in order to conduct an investigation against a political enemy of obama. The Jan 6 “insurrection” appears to be another lie made of whole cloth. They need to be DISSOLVED and ANOTHER agency be used (with lessons learned, I hope). They should never use the name, “Federal Bureau of Investigation” That name has been hopelessly damaged and is a JOKE now.
      It’s difficult to even enunciate the name without a knowing smirk.

      1. “The FBI is a POLITICAL organization. Instead of worrying about Chinese theft of industrial, national security information, they are a tool of the ‘democrat’ party”

        Add to it the CIA. Why didn’t they figure out something was going on in China based on things the Chinese were doing, their purchases and production? They are too busy servicing the Democrat party which chooses to see the decline of America and the destruction of the middle class.

      2. Gaveupontv says:

        “Federal Bureau of Investigation” That name has been hopelessly damaged and is a JOKE now. It’s difficult to even enunciate the name without a knowing smirk.”

        Precisely why no one will trust the Durham Witch-hunt since it too is relying upon the Deep State FBI’s hoaxes, entrapments and corrupt officials. You said it, brother!

  12. I wonder how the press would handle news if Ivanka Trump’s diary was stolen, and in it she said her father Donald Trump took showers with her? Would the coverage be different?

    1. Rodney quips:

      “I wonder how the press would handle news if Ivanka Trump’s diary was stolen, and in it she said her father Donald Trump took showers with her? Would the coverage be different?”

      Would that be news? After all, Trump had said:

      “Ivanka posing for Playboy would be really disappointing… not really. But it would depend on what was inside the magazine…I don’t think Ivanka would [do a nude shoot] inside the magazine, Although she does have a very nice figure. I’ve said that if Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her.”

      Don’t blame me. He said it; not I. Some of you Trumpists may want to substantiate that he actuality made this remark, but it is telling that NONE of you are thinking that this doesn’t sound like him!!

      1. So your argument is that it is OK for Biden to use DOJ/FBI to go after political opponents in the media because Trump said that it was his adult daughters choice to pose nude ?

        I am offended by many of the remarks Trump has made.
        I can even criticize some of his personal conduct as president
        I did not vote for him.

        I am offended by many of Bidens remarks as well as his conduct.
        I have no idea if this story about his daughter is true.
        I doubt it and PV decided NOT to go with the Diary – they too probably decided this was a fake.
        I really hope it is not true, because honestly it is far more disturbing than anything Trump has ever said.
        I did not vote for him.

        Trump was impeached for trying to start an investigation of the Biden Syndicate over allegations that are unarguably true.
        Here we have Biden actually starting investigations into political opponents – lots of them.
        Last week we had Biden putting the DOJ/FBI on concerned parents – calling them white supremecists and domestic terrorists.
        Now we have DOJ/FBI going after Project Vertias for there involvement in rejecting publication of a diary that is allegedly by his daughter.

        And democrats have the gaul to accuse anyone of authoritarianism ?

      2. Donald’s statement about his daughter having a nice figure and that he would date her if she wasn’t his daughter, are just words, with no action. Biden has repeatedly kissed children on the mouth, talked about them rubbing their hands over his leg hair, told his college roommate that he had to empty out before being around children because he couldn’t trust himself, and now his daughter said she used to shower with him as a child. This man is a sick pedophile.

        1. Tstan says:

          “This man [Biden] is a sick pedophile.”

          You suffer from Biden Derangement Syndrome. Pity.

          1. Tstan is just another example of what Turley’s blog has become sadly, a echo chamber for Trump supporters pathetic tantrums and constant deceit.

          2. I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me. I’m going to say this again. I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky

          3. JS denies the truth. Biden has stepped out of bounds, but JS calls others sick for pointing out Biden’s problems. HE doesn’t dispute Biden’s problems so he must have the same sickness as Biden. Are the two of them pedophiles?

          4. I think it is close to an established fact that Biden is a pervert. And so is his son, Hunter. The laptop ALONE shows his proclivities. And Biden never said the laptop wasn’t his, he admitted it could be.
            Even tbe MSM prints some of his scandals.
            Pity.
            Just the established facts have changed many Americans opinions regarding Biden. He’s going to end up being the most hated president of all.

            2. Gaveupontv says:

              “Just the established facts have changed many Americans opinions regarding Biden. He’s going to end up being the most hated president of all.”

              You suffer from BDS (Biden Derangement Syndrome).

              It’s just like TDS that lying Trumpists accused critics of Trump except that now lying Trumpists can be hoisted on their own petard.

    2. What kinda mother would allow that to happen… the pretend doctor is to blame for her pedo husband’s despicable crap… he’s been a pedo for a long time, that’s why hunter is a pedo also… they both belong in jail…

  13. (1) What did the FBI do about the obviously stolen Trump tax documents the New York Times publicized a few months ago? Nothing, as I recall. (2) Why is the FBI reviving this “investigation” after it has lain dormant for several months? Can either Joe or Ashley Biden be happy with the publicity, and the implicit confirmation the investigation brings, to the contents of the diary. Most of us ignored accounts of the diary last year because anyone could have written them, but now we have the FBI pretty much confirming that it was Ashley Biden’s diary and that is not good for Joe Biden.

    2. The question is why would the FBI raid anyone for allegations that are not a federal crime ?

        1. You can find a judge to do anything. Judge shopping is as old as prostitution.

  15. ‘Joe Biden’s whole schtick, which is why they kept him in a basement, is that he was the friendly grandpa. He is, and always has been, a mean-mouthed, nasty man who used his power to intimidate everyone and violated boundaries because he could.

    He’s also stupid’ @melissatweets

    ————————————————————-

    One word response? Yep.

    1. Which Biden? The real guy or his double. I notice both have a different mental capacity.

  16. Project Veritas should get the massage that if they keep exposing that Planned Parenthood is selling baby parts the Gestapo (FBI) will continue to be at your door with a warrant in hand. The heading of the warrant will read, “Vee have vays of dealing Wiv people like you” You should understand that we have been sent by General Hillary and Commandant Biden. If your not yet afraid you should be.

    1. Your posts would be well served if the theme from Deliverance was played along side them.

    2. @ Thinkitthrough: I don’t work for Project Veritas, bu am interested in a massage (therapeutic, not the other kind).

  17. From the very beginning Hillary knew that the dossier was a made up document. She encouraged it being spread to the media to draw attention away from her illegal server. It is becoming more and more apparent that Trump was right when he said, “LOCK HER UP”!!!

    1. Keep trying shill… Trump is in no danger from the politically motivated sham investigations you allude to. If there was anything to get Trump on, they would have done so long ago. You are being strung along by the commie leftists and it is pathetic you keep falling for the same gimmicks.

    2. JeffSilberman, don’t you read the news. The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Politico Magazine all now say that the Steele Dossier was a bunch of lies and that Hillary knew exactly what was going on because she commissioned the dirty deed. Like the coward she is she is going to let her vassals take the fall. If you had but one ounce of decency you would acknowledge the findings of the leftist media that I have provided instead of presenting your “What aboutTrump” argument over and over again. When reading your comments one can’t help but notice that this is your predictable response. What about Trump? What about Trump. What about Trump? A little more nuance concerning the news of the day would be appreciated but certainly not expected. One trick pony comes to mind. It’s okay. Your simply doing what the ringmaster commands you to do. One trick. One trick. One trick. Ad Nauseam.

      1. This must be from Anonymous the Stupid because I don’t think any other anonymous character would say such a stupid thing.

        You may not like the poster or O’Keefe. That is based on personal preference, but neither of them are idiots though you could be.

  20. Hmmm… I would assume as ridiculous as this story is that the FBI just wants to plant some bugs in your house do what Trump does run the bug detector there and get rid of them all

    1. Trump had better keep his cell phone in the glove compartment in his car rather than anywhere in his house if he wants to “debug”.

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