Breaking his gag order again - Statement from James O’Keefe

[arcadian]

http://biggovernment.com/2010/01/29/statement-from-james-okeefe/

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.

It has been amazing to witness the journalistic malpractice committed by many of the organizations covering this story. MSNBC falsely claimed that I violated a non-existent “gag order.” The Associated Press incorrectly reported that I “broke in” to an office which is open to the public. The Washington Post has now had to print corrections in two stories on me. And these are just a few examples of inaccurate and false reporting. The public will judge whether reporters who can’t get their facts straight have the credibility to question my integrity as a journalist.

[Lyric]

1. Looks like Limbaugh's dogwhistle to him worked.

Of course, if he's lying, the Feds will know it. They'll have found equipment that could be used to tap a phone line.

[KittyWampus]

21. He tried to access the phone closet. This is important.

[Botany]

2. As an investigative journalist ....

oh please I thought you were a filmmaker .


http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/07/30/bergman_3007_narrowweb__300x468,0.jpg


BTW Mr. O'Keefe if you wanted to see if her phones were working then you could have just called her.
You might want to try another story.

[KittyWampus]

22. Exactly, he and certainly didn't need access to the phone closet which he was trying to get.

[WolverineDG]

35. Isn't it weird he thought her phones were out of order

when she said they were "jammed?" Sounds to me like they were getting more calls than they could handle, as opposed to no one getting through.

btw jimmy, keep talking.....I'm sure your lawyer loves that fact that you cant STFU.

dg

[Botany]

37. Lawyer to his client Jim F.

Look your answer to every question from now on is NO COMMENT AND I WILL TALK TO THE PRESS .....
BAD ENOUGH YOU OPENED YOUR MOUTH BUT YOU HAD TO POST IT ON THE WEB ...... HEY FUCK STICK
NOW THE FEDERAL PROSECUTOR HAS A HARD COPY OF YOU LYING TO PUT UNDER YOUR NOSE
WHEN YOU ARE ON THE STAND ........ You better hope I can work out a plea deal ASAP that lets
you see the outside sometime before you hit 40.

He wanted to check out if the office phones were working? :rofl:


BTW I believe he is being sued in civil court by ACORN and some ACORN's workers Jim need
to communicate about "things" must be a gold mine for some lawyers who are in on the case
of suing him. Jim F's ACORN stunt cost some people their jobs ...... can you say back wages
and damages?

[theothersnippywshrub]

38. I think his lawyer wrote this statement. n/t

[WolverineDG]

40. then the lawyer is stupid

in a high profile case, with the investigation still on-going, you'd better say nothing but "no comment" to the media.

dg

[theothersnippywshrub]

44. Maybe, but it artfully negates some of the elements of the crimes the teabuggers

are charged with committing. I doubt that O'Keefe could do that without his lawyer's assistance. And Michael Madigan is a pretty serious and good white collar crime defense attorney.

[Stephanie]

50. typical teabag tactic - twist her words to mean something she didn't say

Then accuse her of lying about it.

Her: My phones are jammed!

Him: Your phones are broken? No, they're not. You're a liar!

[Ganja Ninja]

3. He should save his statements for the trial.

Who cares what the idiot has to say.

[mimitabby]

9. fox news cares

[madokie]

4. Throw his sorry ass so far back in the prison to where they'll have to shot the beans to him

and throw away the key to the cell and nothing less. You can bet your sweet ass that he was there on a mission and its not the excuse he's using now.

[eleny]

5. Time to catapult him out of mom's basement and into a jail cell

[BOSSHOG]

6. Question his integrity as a journalist??

o'keefe is not a journalist, he's a fucking snake in the grass brainwashed by a very evil conservative machine. And jimmy you should have done some "investigative" journalism on the senior FBI guy in New Orleans. His name is Jim Letten and he's very good at taking care of scum like you.

[monmouth]

7. Trying too hard kid. Shut up like the gag order stated...n/t

[livetohike]

8. Is he related to Sarah Palin? Both of them can't seem to keep

their mouth shut.Oh and O'Keefe thinks he is a journalist :rofl: and better than the AP or Post journalists?

[Robb]

10. "The public will judge whether blah blah blah..."

Actually, it will be a panel of your peers. 12 of them. ;)

[MUAD_DIB]

11. Is this guy the kind of Jeff Gannon journalist? Does he have a degree in

journalism. I see that he doesn't call himself a reporter.


Does he understand that even when you are investigating something that the law is not yours to define as you wish whenever you want to break it?

Scott Roeder is going to find that out soon enough, and I hope that Jimmy gets his day in court very soon.


Enough of this "I can do what I want" horseshit. Obey the fekking law!

[Blue Owl]

12. "my goal is to expose corruption..."

So he's exposing himself now?

Now now, Mr. O'Keefe...


:eyes:

[tsuki]

13. This public has judged you to be a dumb fark. And a lying dumb fark to boot. nt

[Contrary1]

14. I can't find any credible report that there is a gag order regarding this...

I believe there was such an order in the Acorn case. Anybody have a link, other than the hundreds of blogs that are running with it? Hoping it is true.

[madrchsod]

16. neither can i..

[arcadian]

20. MSNBC reported it

source: the fine investigative reporter stylings of one James O'Keefe :rofl:

[gkhouston]

24. So O'Keefe said there was a gag order and now he says there isn't one?

Probably so he could claim that "other" :rofl: journalists are incompetent.

[arcadian]

26. Per his statement above

He is claiming that MSNBC falsely claimed a he had a gag order. Do we take him for his word? :rofl:

[blogslut]

49. TPM has a copy of O'Keefe's conditions of release order

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2010/01/james-okeefes-conditions-of-release.php?page=1

On page two, there is this:

(O'Keefe shall) avoid all contact, directly or indirectly, with any person who are or who may become a victim or potential witness in the subject investigation or prosecution (the following is handwritten) UNLESS FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES ONLY.

Now, I wouldn't call this a "gag order" but I would think that this order should prevent him from releasing statements through Mr. Breitbart's website, considering the Mr. Breitbart will, no doubt, be called as a witness. This O'Keefe statement doesn't seem to fit the description of "business purposes".

[madrchsod]

15. according to him there is`t a gag order

so it`s no harm in him exercising his free speech.

[WolverineDG]

36. yes, but the investigation is still going on

and I'm sure his lawyer has told him to STFU.

dg

[spotbird]

17. Is there a gag order or not?

Anyone know?

[brendan120678]

30. I've heard differing stories from different news outlets.

So I really have no idea if there is a gag-order or not.

[theothersnippywshrub]

31. I think not. The criminal defense lawyers hired by the teabuggers have been talking to the press

to create their youthful prank defense. These lawyers would not violate a gag order so casually. They have to practice in federal criminal court long after this case is over.

[Nevilledog]

59. Teabuggers.......awesome

First time I've seen them called that....too perfect.

[spotbird]

18. Isn't this a confession?

He must know they aren't going to enforce the law against him.

[theothersnippywshrub]

29. It is pretty close to a confession to a misdemeanor violation of Title 18 Section 1036.

But he carefully avoids actually admitting that they entered under false pretenses. He denies that they intended to interfere with the phones, which would be a violation of Section 1362, which is a felony and which would make the violation 0f 1036 a felony also. This was written by a lawyer.

[KittyWampus]

19. So you admit it wasn't a prank. Oh, and why did you need ACCESS TO THE PHONE CLOSET???

[gkhouston]

23. The phone closet is what's really going to sink them, when it comes to sentencing.

There's just no way they can spin that, and the Federal Government doesn't look kindly on people playing with their phone equipment.

[conscious evolution]

54. That and the reciever

his accomplice had in the car.

[gkhouston]

55. I've heard conflicting reports about what Dai did or didn't have in the car.

We'll know more when the indictments are handed down.

[Arkana]

25. Sorry kid, you committed a crime. You're going to go to jail.

Enjoy being Thunderdick's best friend.

[Bitwit1234]

27. Do most 25 year olds run around the country pulling pranks

I think most 25 years olds are not considered KIDS. The have families, work, if they can get it, to make a living to take care of those families. This guy belongs to the privilege few that does not have to work for a living. He is on the dole from his parents. That's how he can run around the country pulling his PRANKS, AS THE REPUBLICANS SAY.

If he is old enough to pull his 'PRANKS' then he is old enough to take the consequences. JAIL BIG TIME.

[eleny]

28. +1!

[blondeatlast]

46. The same people spewing this dimwitted TP think nothing--nothing--of

sending 12 year olds to adult prisons.

[jmowreader]

32. I like how he talks about his ACORN sting

And exactly how many times did ACORN call the cops on his ass? IIRC only a couple of ACORN's offices took him up on his bullshit--no self-respecting pimp would dress in his mom's chinchilla coat.

[WolverineDG]

33. keep talking keep talking nt

[csziggy]

34. Court Order for O'keefe

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2010/01/james-okeefes-conditions-of-release.php?page=1

Item 7-j. "The defendent shall avoid all contact, directly or indirectly, with any persons who are or who may become a victim or potential witness in the subject investigation or prosecution, including but not limited to: unless for business purposes only.

I am not an attorney and do not know if this language would count as a gag order. Any attorney should have advised their client to shut the fuck up and to not discuss this case or any other court case in public.

I hope he digs himself a really big and deep hole!

[Botany]

39. I wonder if this might also cover any statements or ......

written text that he might do that would contaminate any potential people who might
sit on the jury.

[bvar22]

41. Phone Prank..??? ...No, a "phone prank" is when...

...you call the corner grocery and ask them if they have Prince Albert in a can.

[gkhouston]

43. LOL, that could be a thread all its own.

DUers relating their phone pranks.

[Lucy Goosey]

42. Oh, Jebus, really? "Questioning his integrity as a journalist?"

I think the media and the public aren't so much "questioning his integrity as a journalist" as they are questioning his integrity and pointing out that he is not a journalist.

It takes an incredibly over-inflated ego to whine about people questioning his "integrity" as a "journalist" while in the same statement questioning the integrity of the mainstream media.

Also, if all you wanted to do was ask if the phones were working, why did you have to dress up as repairmen? And why ask for access to the phone closet? And was this a prank or an attempt at a serious bit of reporting? These stories are full of holes.

[blondeatlast]

45. Dig faster, numbskull. I doubt you will serve contempt charges in mommy's basement. nt

[marmar]

47. "credibility to question my integrity as a journalist"

:rofl: :rofl:

And he said that sh*t with a straight face?

:spray: :spray:

[The Backlash Cometh]

48. This is rich

Someone who reports his stories inaccurately is complaining about how the media is incorrectly reporting his situation.

[Marr]

51. This may be the stupidest excuse I've heard, for anything.

[Cass]

52. Phone lines being "jammed" don't mean they are broken....it means they are flooded with calls.

At least that's how I've always interpreted it to mean.

He says he simply went there to ask the staff if the phones were working but they dressed up in phone repairman costumes, wanted access to the phone closet and one of them was outside down the block with a listening device. How does he explain that??

This guy is a smarmy little creep. He's no investigative journalist - he's a partisan hack with an axe to grind.

Notice how he right away frames it that "many of Landrieu's constituents" were trying to call her to tell her not to take federal money for Louisiana in exchange for her HCR vote. Now how would he know what the opinion is of the majority of callers calling her? He is speculating and assuming based on his own political ideology and yet expects us to believe he is this paragon of journalistic integrity? And he has the audacity to accuse others of journalistic malpractice, after the hatchet cut and paste edit job he did on the ACORN tapes?! What a freaking joke.

[arcadian]

57. Not only that, but Senate and Congressional district offices only use those lines for constituents

It's one of the first things they ask, I'm pretty sure James isn't one of Landrieu's constituents.

[Bluerthanblue]

53. if the phones were jammed, there's always mail, e-or snail, and going

in person.
this fool thinks he's important. Odd how he complains about "reporters who can't get their facts straight" and questions their credibility reporting on a fellow "reporter".

ah the irony.

[ddeclue]

56. ROT. IN. JAIL. ASSHOLE.

[applegrove]

58. "expose corruption and lack of concern for citizens "... nobody is concerned less for

citizens than a GOP operative who works to further the GOP agenda of obstruction of health care reform and the like.