Project Veritas, which ousted its founder James O’Keefe earlier this year, has filed a lawsuit against O’Keefe alleging financial misdoings. Veritas is a 501c(3) not-for-profit that subsists on donations. The suit was filed in New York.
“Being known as the founder of an organization does not entitle that person to run amok and put his own interests ahead of the organization,” the suit claims, alleging that O’Keefe “failed in his duties” to Veritas, thereby “causing it serious and significant damage.”
The suit claims that O’Keefe violated his contract by not keeping confidential that information he knew about Veritas’ business and investigative operations, that he behaved “unprofessionally during team meetings,” and has “targeted female employees with mean-spirited comments about personal situations like pregnancies.”
Veritas claims O’Keefe had “strained” relationships with donors, that employees saw “obscene” messages between O’Keefe and others when they access his phone, and that there was “financial misconduct,” including using his business card for personal expenses.
The complaint alleges that O’Keefe “breached his fiduciary duties” to Project Veritas by forming OMG “while still employed by Plaintiffs,” and by soliciting employees and donors to join OMG.