So again, what exactly are we being prosecuted for? What is this really about?
Make no mistake, this is about prosecuting the press, and this isn’t the first time something like
this has happened to me.
In New Orleans, LA, they falsely accused me of a felony and later admitted there was no felony.
The U.S. attorneys involved in that case were eventually disbarred.
The federal prosecutor was so furious about this case that he literally threw my book at me.
“You’re a nasty, little, cowardly spud,” prosecutor Jim Letten said. “You are scum! I recused from
your case!”
Then there was the case when the FBI came knocking at my house. Agents stormed into my
home and unlocked my phone to get access to my Signal in order to intimidate me and to
intimidate the sources that come to me.
It was such a landmark First Amendment case that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
filed amicus, and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press came to my defense.
I have been to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, challenging the constitutionality of Oregon's
recording laws. Got a reversal there.
I went up to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Massachusetts there. We won a partial victory.
In another civil case, Shirley Teter v. O’Keefe, I won at directed verdict. For that case, there were
six pro-bono lawyers representing the plaintiff, who stated, “We’re not paid by the Hillary
Clinton campaign or by the Democratic Party or anything like that.” The federal judge pointed
out the unsolicited statement only raised further questions, and ordered them to pay my legal
fees.
I have been sued so many times and have had so many criminal threats made against me that
even the media that hates me is forced to acknowledge that I have established legal 1st
Amendment precedent throughout the nation.
We also overturned a jury verdict against me in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals last month
before a panel of judges, which were appointed by Democrats. We convinced the panel to side
with the 1st Amendment, creating a new standard for undercover journalism across the board.
It’s now called the “O’Keefe Principle.” On publication injury when undercover journalism is
involved.
###
The politics of fear and weaponized lawfare don’t seem to work against me. It never has.
Actually, it has always backfired against the people who come after me.
Why is that? It’s because what’s at issue here is not actually political; it’s fundamental.
This is about whether citizens still have a right to ask questions of their government servants,
and such a fundamental right will always prevail if you do not cower at their threats.
And the thing about me is – I never settle.
Most people find lawsuits stressful. The process becomes a form of punishment, but not to me.
I actually love this process.
I enjoy this process.
I'm going to have fun with this process.
Because it allows me to expose injustice at the highest levels.
There is nothing as sweet as justice, and there is nothing as motivating as injustice.
And in this case, they have put your right to speak on the line. Everything we believe in as
Americans has been put on the line.
But it does seem to indicate the direction of where our country is going.
I recognize that we’re well past the point of being completely divided in this country, but this
case isn’t about what divides us; it's about what unites us. What unites us is so much stronger
than what divides us. Because the right to question authority and educate people matters to
people on all sides.
Ironically, Moriarty put out a statement on social media and restricted the comments section on
her official X government account, which violates the 1st Amendment.
And now, I’m summoned to appear before the Hennepin County judge on Monday, Nov. 16th,
just four days after our Citizen Journalism Gala, where we’ll host many people who don’t all
agree with each other on public policy. And yet, each of them all stands united behind the 1st
Amendment.
That’s why I’m calling on all Americans, and not just independent journalists, but especially