James O'Keefe Releases Statement On His Arrest
Posted by Jim Hoft on Friday, January 29, 2010, 6:21 AM
Investigative journalist James O’Keefe released a statement this morning on his arrest earlier this week.
Big Government posted the statement this morning.
The government has now confirmed what has always been clear: No one tried to wiretap or bug Senator Landrieu’s office. Nor did we try to cut or shut down her phone lines. Reports to this effect over the past 48 hours are inaccurate and false.
As an investigative journalist, my goal is to expose corruption and lack of concern for citizens by government and other institutions, as I did last year when our investigations revealed the massive corruption and fraud perpetrated by ACORN. For decades, investigative journalists have used a variety of tactics to try to dig out and reveal the truth.
I learned from a number of sources that many of Senator Landrieu’s constituents were having trouble getting through to her office to tell her that they didn’t want her taking millions of federal dollars in exchange for her vote on the healthcare bill. When asked about this, Senator Landrieu’s explanation was that, “Our lines have been jammed for weeks.” I decided to investigate why a representative of the people would be out of touch with her constituents for “weeks” because her phones were broken. In investigating this matter, we decided to visit Senator Landrieu’s district office – the people’s office – to ask the staff if their phones were working.
On reflection, I could have used a different approach to this investigation, particularly given the sensitivities that people understandably have about security in a federal building. The sole intent of our investigation was to determine whether or not Senator Landrieu was purposely trying to avoid constituents who were calling to register their views to her as their Senator. We video taped the entire visit, the government has those tapes, and I’m eager for them to be released because they refute the false claims being repeated by much of the mainstream media…
Big Government has the rest of the statement.
O’Keefe goes on to correct the several inaccurate reports by the state-run media.
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Andrew commented:
It is good to hear that James was doing this. I had hoped he wasn’t trying to bug a phone. Way to go James!
NC Cop commented:
The truth won’t make a differnece to the left. They will continue to portray him as a small part of a larger right wing conspiracy in their attempt to destroy conservatism.
Glad to see James is out there trying to get the stories that our MSM refuses to look into.
Zachriel commented:
Sorry, but that doesn’t explain why ‘telephone repairers’ wanted entry to the office’s telephone junction room.
Pat the First commented:
It will make no difference to the left. Look at the things that they believe is real . . . Gov. Palin is supposed to have said that she could see Russia from her home . . . that the CRA had nothing to do with the housing collapse . . . that President Bush was ignorant . . . that B.O. is the smartest thing that was ever born.
O’Keefe did a very dumb thing and now all the good work they did against ACORN is severely diminished. Just a very, very stupid thing.
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Auntie Em commented:
Now Schuster looks like an idiot sycophant for railing against Breitbart.
MSM has rabies.
Angela commented:
Couldn’t “our lines have been jammed for weeks” simply mean that the phones have been really busy? That’s how I would have interpreted it.
Pat the First commented:
Angela
January 29th, 2010 | 11:03 am | #6
Yes, it could mean that or it could mean they just were ignoring their phones when they tired of answering calls that were not pleasant.
James Doulos commented:
Since Mr O’Keefe considers himself to be an investigative journalist he should be very aware that ‘truth’ (actual hard facts) are not the issue with this situation; rather the primary issue is ‘perception’. It’s very possible that Mr O’Keefes credibility has been permanently tainted. The very people that he wants to reach (independents and moderate Democrats) are the ones who are going to turn away the quickest. The best thing he could hope for is the investigators stumbling across some real criminal activity in Senator Landrieu’s office – like a wad of money in her freezer.
Dell commented:
Just an educated guess on my part (but that’s all the media is doing, so I guess I can as well), but I’m thinking they wanted access to the main telephone closet to see if there was any hardware in the circuitry that’s designed to deliver a busy signal, even when the actual phones are not in use. Many telemarketing companies use exactly that type of equipment so that when you pick off their phone number and call it back, you get “beep….beep….beep” – Busy. If you know what to look for, it’s not hard to spot.
It’s also one of those assignments best left to the pros – especially because it was on federal property. Not a job for amateurs, that’s for sure!
If the prosecutors go forward with the charges – and I presume they will – it will be interesting to see what documents pertaining to the maintenance of the telephone system the defense attorney requests under the rule of “discovery”.
Pat the First commented:
Also most good phone system allow you to send calls to voice mail so that it doesn’t ring through. We could do that with our calls in the last law firm where I worked.
pm commented:
Glad to read he’d videotaped the whole thing. But concerned he’d handed it over to the government if he made no copy for himself.
Thought I’d read they were as interested in the staff’s reactions as much as anything; like how (un)concerned they were that the phone lines weren’t working.
No Man commented:
The enemy only has lies and insults. They are nothing but pure evil.
waicoo commented:
freakin’ hillarious. O’Keefe’s got balls bigger than pickle jars. next, i can imagine the village people showing up at O’Bummers doorstep asking if they can fix those shovel ready jobs to tune of “We are family”
Tom commented:
I hope he doesn’t get in trouble, but he still broke the law…He now understands the implications beyond the original goal. This type of stuff should show (as well as his misdeed) the huge difference in treatment of individuals.
Kitty commented:
It always pays to wait for the details.
From Conservatives 4 Palin: “Contrast him with a man named David Kernell. You may not even know who he is, although you should. Kernell is the son of Tennessee Democratic legislator Mike Kernell, the same son who hacked into the email and stole personal information from a sitting governor and vice presidential nominee.”
http://www.conservatives4palin.com/2010/01/okeefe-is-front-and-center-what-about.html
…
Andrew X commented:
Gulity as charged of jumping pretty hard on Mr. O’K, right here in this forum, though I did specifically say we needed to see how this played out.
But I stand by much of what I said — This was a bridge too far, and, given that he is now at the tender mercies of the Feddel Gummint, he will be in fact lucky to escape at least a small amount of jail time.
The guys that dressed up as phone-ies is the killer. Ya just can’t do/i> that kinda Shiite in a Federal Building, man, it’s nuts.
God Bless O’Keefe for his motivation, his passion, his balls(!), and for his work on ACORN. But this is called “stepping on your joint”, big time, and his ability to do the kind of thing that he obviously loves doing has now been severely compromised.
And that’s a damn shame. I hope it works out for him.
Jack Okie commented:
Tom:
Just curious – what law did he break? Did they have the trial while I wasn’t looking? Of course, your approach – verdict first, trial later – is seen a lot in certain circles.
AuntieMadder commented:
Even though I’m grateful to him for having done it, taping the crooks at ACORN without their knowledge/permission was also illegal. O’K's still a kid and, being a youngen, he’s flying on a combination of great ambitions and recklessness. This latest run-in with the law should help him mature by teaching him to look a little more closely before leaping, which will make him a more credible source in the long run. I predict we’ve not seen the last of O’K's work, that he’s only at the beginning of a great, long career.
Van commented:
Given that O’Keefe’s whole style is to publish video of his stings… the ‘wiretapping’ accusation seemed pretty stupid on the face of it.
It was a good idea but obviously not without risk… “Federal” and “Felony” should always be figured into risk management factors. Maybe he has “…got balls bigger than pickle jars…”, but that’s far better than its opposite as demonstrated by obamao.
Best wishes to O’Keefe, Joe and the other’s and anything I can do to help out, I’ll be glad to (uhm… as long as it doesn’t include dressing up… just sayin’).
Dell commented:
AuntieMadder #19 said:
“…taping the crooks at ACORN without their knowledge/permission was also illegal.”
I strongly urge you to reconsider that portion of your statement and belief. Whether it was or was not legal is for a court to decide and – from settled law – I can assure you that he (O’keefe) will have a very strong case that his actions were quite legal.
A knee-jerk reaction is almost always wrong.
Van commented:
re: last, ‘pickle jars’=ears for obamao.
Btw… anyone notice how the abdulmutalab jingle balls bomber was an ‘alleged’ terrorist… how malik nadal hasan ‘allegedly’ shot people at Ft. Hood, how even friggin’ KSM was an ‘alleged’ mastermind of 9/11… but O’Keefe? Wiretapper!
Gotta love it. And organize and defeat them of course, but still… just gotta appreciate good comedy.
AuntieMadder commented:
No, Dell, legality isn’t determined in criminal court. The laws are already on the books. Whether or not O’K or any defendent is guilty of breaking a law is determined in the courtroom. With a good defense, O’K may very well walk away with a verdict of not guilty. But even if found guilty, it shouldn’t be with anything more than a slap on the wrist.
Dell commented:
AuntieMadder
January 29th, 2010 | 12:24 pm | #23
“No, Dell, legality isn’t determined in criminal court.”
That statement makes my head hurt.
I guess what I did professionally for over 28 years was wrong? And all this time I thought that courts determine what is or is not legal. Imagine that!
Off to see my shrink.
/sarc off
Nathan R. Jessup commented:
AuntieMaddie-you are absolutely correct. The courtroom (an expert of the law-hopefully) determines whether or not the law was actually broken.
Dell-am I missing your point?
Nathan R. Jessup
http://www.the-raw-deal.com
starboardhelm commented:
Watch for all charges to be dropped when the ‘witnesses’ realize that lying to the FBI under oath is a worse crime than what the O’Keefe Gang did.
Mandation! http://www.wordnik.com/words/mandation
Van commented:
dell said “I guess what I did professionally for over 28 years was wrong? And all this time I thought that courts determine what is or is not legal. Imagine that!”
Courts don’t determine what is or is not legal, that’s the legislature’s job, the courts just determine whether the act in question was legal. The closest the courts come to your statement, is determining whether or not a particular piece of legislation was constitutional.
It’s a subtle distinction I suppose, though one a lawyer should be able to perceive, but don’t feel too bad about it… a common malady among college graduates… so many things ya’ll know, just aren’t so.
Van commented:
Dell said “A knee-jerk reaction is almost always wrong.”
Speaking of which… I’ve got to remember to read back up to the previous comments.
Sheesh. Sorry about that.
Georg Felis commented:
Predictions:
1. He will never get the tapes back. They will either be “accidently” erased, lost, or “held pending resolution of their legal status”.
2. Sen. Landrieu will eventually drop the charges when she realizes what it means to have her staff testify. But she will twist General Services Administration (the building leasor) to push any charges they can against O’Keefe, to be held over his head until the heat-death of the universe.
Lessons learned: Plot these kinds of pranks out in advance, and have them vetted by a lawyer to make sure you are not doing something criminal. Video recorded needs to be streamed to an off-site location if possible, so you can keep a copy.
Hondo Crouch commented:
Gee, imagine that – someone accused of a crime says they weren’t really doing anything wrong… And you people swallow it hook, line, and sinker. What a bunch of partisan morons.
Andrew X commented:
Hondo -
Gee, imagine that. Someone accused of a crime acts as though he is “innocent until proven guily in a court of law”, and some other people essentially take that at face value.
Kah-raaaaaaayzeeeeee…….