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You are here: Home / Politics / domestic terrorists / Wednesday Evening Open Thread: Joke O’Keefe Strikes (Himself) Again!

Wednesday Evening Open Thread: Joke O’Keefe Strikes (Himself) Again!

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Lest we forget — being a Republican means never learning anything from one’s mistakes. Jane Mayer, in the New Yorker, on a repeat offender:

James O’Keefe III, the conservative activist famous for undercover stings, has dedicated his life to exposing the “misconduct” of others. But he’s developed a side business in accidentally exposing his own. In the latest chapter of his strange career, the League of Conservation Voters, a national environmental-advocacy group, has filed a complaint against three individuals who infiltrated its operations, at least two of whom, the group alleges, “could be associated with” O’Keefe and have past ties to him. The group’s leaders recently began to suspect that they were being scammed, and decided to go to the authorities before O’Keefe or his alleged associates released any material on their own.

In a six-page letter of complaint sent to the California Department of Justice on Friday, the League of Conservation Voters, or L.C.V., asked the state’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra, to open a criminal investigation into the operatives for potential fraud, racketeering, unfair business practices, trespassing, invasion of privacy, and possible violation of the state’s two-way-consent eavesdropping laws. The environmental group filed the letter in California because the “imposters,” as it labelled the operatives, first made contact with the organization through its state branch in the San Francisco Bay Area. A spokesperson for the California Department of Justice declined to comment, as is its policy on potential criminal investigations.

O’Keefe, whom I reached by phone on Tuesday, said that he was unaware of the letter and otherwise declined to discuss the matter. “I don’t comment on investigations real or imagined, or work with mainstream reporters who operate in bad faith,” he told me. In 2016, I wrote an article for this magazine about O’Keefe’s bungled attempt to sting George Soros’s Open Society Foundations, a liberal nonprofit group that O’Keefe had targeted.

L.C.V.’s letter describes an elaborate, six-month-long scheme. It alleges that the three operatives created false personas—backed up with fake Facebook, LinkedIn, and e-mail accounts—under which they met with “dozens” of the group’s staffers, board members, and donors, and gained access to “confidential” information. According to the letter, “at least two” of the individuals, who are identified as Christian Hartsock and Daniel Sandini, have reportedly worked with O’Keefe in the past, though L.C.V.’s letter acknowledges that the group doesn’t know whether O’Keefe was directly involved in the sting or merely inspired a copycat operation. Hartsock and Sandini also have connections to Stephen K. Bannon, President Trump’s chief political adviser: they both received film credits in “Occupy Unmasked,” a 2012 documentary directed by Bannon. The film’s cast notes describe Hartsock as a longtime collaborator of O’Keefe’s and a “protégé” of Andrew Breitbart, the late founder of the right-wing Web site Breitbart News, which Bannon ran prior to joining Trump’s Presidential campaign last year. They also say that Sandini is “inspired by Andrew Breitbart and James O’Keefe.” The third individual named in the letter, Ann Vandersteel, is a conservative online commentator who has promoted conspiracy theories including “Pizzagate,” the election-season right-wing fantasy that claimed Hillary Clinton’s campaign was running a child-molestation ring in the basement of a Washington pizza parlor that, among other things, has no basement. (Hartsock declined to comment for this article, and attempts to reach Sandini and Vandersteel were unsuccessful.)…

According to the letter, the scheme began last December, when Hartsock approached L.C.V.’s Oakland, California, office pretending to be a man named Trent Maynard. He allegedly said that he represented a wealthy but politically inexperienced donor who had been motivated by Trump’s election to give to progressive causes. Hartsock presented a fake business card and mentioned that his donor friend wanted to be introduced to environmental leaders and elected officials. Soon after, L.C.V. staffers invited Hartsock to attend an Inauguration Day fundraiser for environmental groups, where he mingled with various progressive leaders…

The L.C.V. staff found some of Sandini’s behavior bizarre. At one L.C.V. event, he seemed inexplicably disappointed when he wasn’t able to present a pair of cufflinks to the California Senate’s president pro tempore, Kevin de León, after de León failed to show. The staff also noticed that he had a habit of leaving his cufflinks, and his phone, on tables during get-togethers, which, according to L.C.V.’s letter, “raises the possibility that we have been recorded without consent. We are deeply concerned that if surreptitious, unauthorized videos or recordings were made, these individuals could make deceptive edits to create unfair, malicious, and false impressions.”…

Beats looking for an honest job, I guess.
***********

Apart from casting a cold eye on all the little criminals, what’s on the agenda for the evening?

Reader Interactions

78Comments

  1. 1.

    The Dangerman

    Shouldn’t that be “strokes himself”? Works better with in “accidentally exposing his own”, IMNSHO.

    ETA: Seriously, this Guy, along with Hannity, Jesse Waters, the list could go on and on … it’s assholes all the way down.

  3. 3.

    seaboogie

    Brilliant strategery there James, because the pro-conservation crowd is known for wearing French cuffs and in dire need of a new pair of cuff links.

  4. 4.

    gene108

    I wonder who is paying O’Keefe’s bills? He doesn’t seem to be doing any real work other than these sorts of “documentaries”.

  6. 6.

    Elizabelle

    Mrs. Imm (Julie, IRL) passed away. Immanetize put the comment on the Flat Rejection Thread. I am a little confused as to whether it was yesterday, or the week before, but Julie was only 50. Reposting here:

    FROM IMMANETIZE, earlier today:

    O/T (in this case “Open Thread”)

    I am writing to share an update about my wife (J), son (the Immp) and me.

    To recap for those who have missed my very spotty comments — after some very good news at the end of May (wasn’t that like five years ago?) with J’s first chemo regimen, her cancer adapted and started growing again. A second regimen was tried and that ended up showing little promise. We were looking at a third possible chemo set and perhaps some research trials when, just two weeks ago, she had two major setbacks. The first was some blood clotting (treatable) but the second was a stomach blockage from the tumor. This blocked most of the area which links the stomach to the small intestine as well as the bile drainage tube from the liver/gall bladder/pancreas. That blockage could not be shunted or bypassed, and is obviously a real problem as Julie hasn’t been able to eat much and is also getting bilious. The cancer had also spread, at a minimum, to her liver. Last week, we moved J from therapeutic treatment to palliative-only care. The plan was to get J’s symptoms stabilized and meds fine-tuned so that she could be moved to home hospice care. The plan was to move J home this past Tuesday which was coincidentally her 50th birthday.

    The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
    Gang aft agley

    Instead of being at home, my dear wife died on Tuesday. The Immp and I were with her up to the near-end and her parents and only brother were also in town from Texas. This was a comfort to all involved. All of J’s friends, my friends, and Immp’s friends and their families have been so kind and generous. Also, people here have been so supportive and kind. Thank you.

    I am committed to writing down some of my observations/insights/thoughts/ experiences about this blazingly fast five months from diagnosis to death. But that will happen after the crazy of the next few days slackens.

    When J and I were talking about her coming death, she told me, “I will miss this whole world.”

    Not really anything else to say, except hold those you love close.

  10. 10.

    A Ghost to Most

    It was a strange moment of triumph against racism: The gun-slinging white supremacist Craig Cobb, dressed up for daytime TV in a dark suit and red tie, hearing that his DNA testing revealed his ancestry to be only “86 percent European, and … 14 percent Sub-Saharan African.” The studio audience whooped and laughed and cheered. And Cobb – who was, in 2013, charged with terrorizing people while trying to create an all-white enclave in North Dakota – reacted like a sore loser in the schoolyard.

    smile

  11. 11.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    Goddamn it, I keep drawing twitter timeouts. This time, for mocking Melissa whatsherface’s tears on Fox.

  16. 16.

    Mnemosyne

    @Elizabelle:

    Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear that. It sounds like my brother’s decline — he was never hospitalized so we just transitioned to home hospice, but he, too, was gone very very quickly.

    Fuck cancer.

    ETA: My brother was only a year older than Mrs. Imm.

  17. 17.

    Elizabelle

    Re: Julie, Mrs. Immanetize’s comment:

    “I will miss this whole world.”

    That is just what you would say, and feel, when you were taken too early.

  21. 21.

    Mnemosyne

    @trollhattan:

    Yeah, I was about to say that conservative activists who have tried to fuck with the state of California end up regretting it, bigly. Our state Attorneys General tend not to find that shit funny.

  23. 23.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @gene108: He’s a trust fund baby. Also, I’m sure the Kochs and the Mercers have helped out through their various political action committees.

  26. 26.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Elizabelle: Immanentize, my deep condolences. Hugs to you and yours as you grapple with this.

    I’m trying very hard to avoid saying “best regards”. Cripes. What an asshole.

  29. 29.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Elizabelle:

    Oh shit. Just … That really sucks. My heart hurts for our friend Imm and young Immp and the family.

    God dammit. So much sadness.

  32. 32.

    Miss Bianca

    @Elizabelle: Oh, how sad. Been there with the “blazingly fast diagnosis-to-death” scenario with family members. It’s awful, no matter how well-prepared you think you are.

  37. 37.

    Elizabelle

    I would bet we could put all these comments in reading form for Immanetize, when he feels ready to check back in.

    “We,” of course, meaning tech wizard Alain, who is marvelous at this type of stuff. Sad to have two occasions recently. Green not Green and Julie Mrs. Imm, gone too soon.

    They did not get to see our world in the USA turn to its better angels again, and I hope that is coming. Although who knows how long it will take, and what happens on the road to sanity. It’s all unscripted territory.

  39. 39.

    efgoldman

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    Condolences to Immanetize and his family.

    GodDAMN!
    I hope the Immp manages over time to be accepting, but it would be expected and not surprising if s/he acted out.
    I don’t do prayers, but I wish everyone peace and acceptance.

  44. 44.

    MJS

    Immanentize, if you see this, my sincerest condolences. My Julie died from cancer 5 years ago at 48. Like your Julie, the time between diagnosis and her passing was short. I remember seeing your comment when you first found out and thinking “I hope this turns out better for Immantenize.” I’m so sorry it didn’t. The only comfort I can provide is that even though it may not feel like it in the days to come, you will get through this. Again, I am so sorry.

  46. 46.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    @efgoldman: I’m not sure how old Immp is, I lost my dad just before the start of winter quarter of my senior year of college. I had little time to grieve, since school/work took most of my time and I had to concentrate on finishing up my degree.

  47. 47.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Has anyone heard from Smiling Mortician? I hope s/he or spouse can give us an update, and of course I’m very hopeful that it’s an encouraging one.

    @Elizabelle: I meant to say in my comment upthread, thank you for posting this update. I had missed seeing Imm’s sad announcement earlier.

  48. 48.

    debbie

    @NotMax:

    Can’t read it because of my ad blocker (which I refuse to remove), but I’m sure it was quite the rationalization.

  49. 49.

    dmsilev

    @West of the Rockies (been a while):

    Any chance of a round robin face punch off with O’Keefe, Skrelli, Cruz, Coulter, Ghomert, and too many others to mention?

    Now, now, in the modern economy the proper approach is to produce a cellphone app that quickly and easily gives the location of the nearest deserving recipient of a punch in the face. Like Uber, but for punches (and not coincidentally, the former CEO of Uber is on The List).

  50. 50.

    Quinerly

    @Elizabelle:
    Thanks for posting this, sweet lady. My heart breaks for him. I think I saw a Monday comment by him. These days are running together.

  51. 51.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @MJS:

    I am sorry for your loss. Though it was five years ago, it must sometimes still feel all too fresh.

  52. 52.

    Elizabelle

    For Kay, who saw through these cretinous frauds immediately. Andy Borowitz nails it again.

    Borowitz Report:

    Ivanka and Jared Vacationing in Moral Vacuum

    “It’s heaven,” Ivanka said. “We get up in the morning and never give a thought to our responsibility as Jews, Americans, or moral actors.”

  54. 54.

    efgoldman

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    I’m not sure how old Immp is

    Nor am I, but I thought I remembered daddy Imm saying something appropriate to middle school or high school age.
    It’s entirely possible my rememberer is broken.

  55. 55.

    Elizabelle

    @SiubhanDuinne: Yes. Sending out the best to Smiling Mortician (and what a ‘nym!)

    You hang in there and get better, SM.

    @MJS: I wonder if you and Imm could ever end up communicating IRL, in time. What a sad shared experience, for both of you.

  56. 56.

    debbie

    @Elizabelle:

    Yeah, this administration has really defined what a self-hating Jew is. It used to be “liberals”; it’s now been redefined as those who would turn on or desert their own.

  57. 57.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Elizabelle:

    They did not get to see our world in the USA turn to its better angels again, and I hope that is coming. Although who knows how long it will take, and what happens on the road to sanity. It’s all unscripted territory.

    Last fall, I know I mentioned here, my elderly cousin died after a longish decline. Her daughter made sure she voted by absentee ballot, and as a lifelong Democrat she naturally voted for Hillary.

    Martha died on the Sunday, two days before the election. Her daughter and I say to each other at least once a week how grateful we are that she died fully confident that Hillary would win, and that she didn’t live to experience our current national shitshow.

  58. 58.

    MJS

    @SiubhanDuinne: Thank you. I appreciate that. Time’s funny – some days it seems like a million years since I saw her, other days I can’t believe it’s been 5 years already. Sometimes time flies even if you’re not having fun, I guess.

  60. 60.

    eclare

    @dmsilev: I nominate Ryan for the round robin. Along with “people just need to cut down on cell phones” Chaffetz. We may need to expand this to a March Madness style event, I think it starts with 64 teams?

  61. 61.

    Ohio Mom

    @Elizabelle: Thanks for sharing that. I don’t get to read every thread and had been wondering how things were going for the Imm family. Goddamn cancer.

    My condolences to all who loved Julie and who will now miss her terribly. May her memory be a comfort and a blessing, always.

  63. 63.

    MJS

    @Elizabelle: I would certainly be happy to do that, if he’d be agreeable. I see others mention that he has a school-aged kid. My two were in high school when it happened. If Imm is like me, right now he’s probably thinking there’s no way he can do this, but he can and will.

  65. 65.

    Elizabelle

    OT, because I have no interest in the least in James O’Keefe:

    The Virginia Democratic nominee for governor, Dr. Ralph Northam, election this fall, came out strongly in support of removing Confederate monuments. From the Richmond Times Disgrace:

    Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam, the Democratic nominee for governor, said in a statement on Wednesday that Confederate statues “should be taken down and moved into museums.”

    Republican nominee Ed Gillespie said in response that he agrees that decisions about Confederate monuments should be made at the local level, but that the monuments should remain and “be placed in historical context.”

    Gillespie credited the “balance” that Richmond was taking in what until later Wednesday was its approach to keep its Confederate statues and weigh how to put them in “proper historical context.”

    Later Wednesday, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney said his commission will now consider removal or relocation of some or all of the Confederate statues.

    Northam said in his statement: “I support city of Charlottesville’s decision to remove the Robert E. Lee statue. I believe these statues should be taken down and moved into museums. As governor, I am going to be a vocal advocate for that approach and work with localities on this issue.

    “We should also do more to elevate the parts of our history that have all too often been underrepresented. That means memorializing civil rights advocates like Barbara Johns and Oliver Hill, who helped move our commonwealth closer towards equality.”

    Northam released his statement following a memorial service in Charlottesville for Heather Heyer, the 32-year-old woman struck and killed Saturday by a car that plowed into counterprotesters at the white nationalist rally.

  69. 69.

    SgrAstar

    Dear Immanentize: so sorry to hear about your loss. You know that your BJ community ia always here to offer comfort and support.?

  70. 70.

    Elizabelle

    @MJS: I kind of think Immp is in high school too; he was in a robotics competition, right? Kind of sounds like a junior, or maybe sophomore to me.

    You have really been there.

  72. 72.

    Shalimar

    @gene108: I have read in the past that O’Keefe is primarily funded by Breitbart, which gets most of it’s money from the Mercers.

  74. 74.

    Riley's Enabler

    @Elizabelle: Thank you for posting. Immfamily, I send my deepest condolences to you all. So very sorry for the loss of J. So very, very sorry.

  76. 76.

    satby

    @Elizabelle: Elizabelle, thank you for reposting. My deepest condolences to Immanetize and their son, and all theur family. Only 50 years old, and on her birthday, life is so fucking unfair sometimes.

  78. 78.

    Chet Murthy

    @A Ghost to Most: As a South Indian, I was sorely disappointed to learn that b/c my caste was “Kshatriya” I probably had a nontrivial portion of “Aryan” (invader) blood. B/c yaknow, the “caste” system is just a religiously-enforced system of apartheid. I’m pretty dark, and had assumed my entire life that I was like the rest of South India — Dravidian, like the aborigines in Australia.

    So the … dismay can run in both directions. HA!

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