FBI and federal prosecutors raid journalist homes in search of diary “stolen” from Biden daughter

A story run by the New York Times Friday revealed that federal prosecutors in Manhattan teamed up with FBI agents in raids on the homes of at least two journalists with Project Veritas—an investigative news organization dedicated to exposing corruption in public and private institutions, primarily through sting operations. The group’s founder, James O’Keefe, confirmed the reporting, describing the FBI raids as a coordinated “attack” on Project Veritas by the DOJ and the Times.

"I woke to the news that apartments and homes of Project Veritas journalists, or former journalists, had been raided by FBI agents," O'Keefe stated. "It appears the Southern District of New York now has journalists in their sights for the supposed crime of doing their jobs lawfully and honestly, or at least this journalist.”

O’Keefe alleged that the Times contacted a Project Veritas reporter within an hour of the raid on the reporter’s home.

“We do not know how the New York Times was aware of the execution of a search warrant at our reporter's home or the subject matter of the search warrant as a grand jury investigation is secret,” O’Keefe stated. O’Keefe’s concerns were echoed by Patrick Wood, Executive Director of Citizens for Free Speech (CFFS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the First Amendment.

“Everyone knows that Project Veritas is a thorn in the side of organizations that traffic in corruption and dishonesty,” Wood declared. “Their undercover reporters have been able to expose inside information, usually on hidden camera, that is often very damaging to groups engaging in questionable, often illegal activities. Their success in shining the light of transparency on these powerful organizations has now made them a target of a DOJ that is making a habit of intimidating private citizens to protect a political agenda.”

The federal investigators were reportedly looking for evidence in the disappearance of a diary owned by President Joe Biden’s daughter, Ashley Biden. O’Keefe explained that his group was approached by tipsters last year, claiming they found the diary abandoned in a room they later occupied, and that it was filled with “explosive allegations” about Joe Biden before last November’s presidential election. O’Keefe claimed that his group did not publish any information contained in the diary and gave it to law enforcement to be returned to its owner.

Regardless of how the diary may have been used or not used, CFFS said, the federal government should have no role whatsoever in investigating its disappearance. 

“This is shockingly similar to what AG Merrick Garland is doing to parents who are challenging school boards over what they deem to be inappropriate curricula,” Wood remarked. “Garland warned that the FBI would be investigating parents that ‘harassed, intimidated, or threatened’ school officials, when such incidents should clearly be handled by local law enforcement. The intent was to deter parents from challenging the educational agenda supported by the Biden administration.

“And now, they’re doing the same thing to Project Veritas. They’re using federal law enforcement and prosecutors to investigate the alleged theft of a diary. This is clearly an attempt to intimidate other intrepid reporters that might also be interested in exposing public corruption. Project Veritas has published damning undercover video while investigating the likes of Planned Parenthood, Pfizer, Moderna, and a host of public and private organizations hiding the truth from the people. Sending the FBI after them is a direct assault on a free press.”

For more information about CFFS please visit www.CitizensForFreeSpeech.org