D.C. Circuit voids $130,000 judgment against James O’Keefe in 2016 sting case
A federal appeals court has overturned a 2022 jury verdict that awarded $130,000 to Robert Creamer and Democracy Partners against conservative activist James O’Keefe and Project Veritas. The D.C. Circuit ruled that the original judgment violated the First Amendment by conflating lawful undercover reporting with unlawful conduct. While the court upheld that O’Keefe’s operative committed fraud by lying to infiltrate the firm, judges determined that the financial damages awarded were largely attributable to legal reporting conducted outside the firm’s offices. This ruling provides a significant legal precedent for O’Keefe, who faces other lawsuits, and highlights ongoing tensions regarding the boundaries of subterfuge in journalism.