Andrew Breitbart-funded conservative activist James O'Keefe, who was recently arrested for allegedly trying to tamper with the telephone system in Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu's office in New Orleans has posted a statement on Breitbart's website. O'Keefe confirms he was trying to execute another "gotcha"-style video, not wiretap the phones. "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," O'Keefe says:
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.
O'Keefe can use all the official-sounding language he wants ("The sole intent of our investigation") but he still stands accused of a felony. That he wasn't actually trying to wiretap Landrieu's office as was initially reported doesn't change that he may have committed a crime. His motives, which I think are pretty plausible, do not change that.
The FBI affidavit describes them as "fraudulently representing that they were employees of a telephone company." O'Keefe doesn't give an explanation why his buddies were dressed up like telephone company workers, if they just went to the office to chat with Landrieu's staff about whether or not the phones were working.
What's ironic here is that, in the midst of accusing the media of "malpractice," O'Keefe claims that "our investigations revealed the massive corruption and fraud perpetrated by ACORN." Except they didn't. Those tapes made ACORN look really bad, and it had serious consequences for the organization, but a report from the Congressional Research Service found that ACORN never violated the terms of its federal funding. Having falsely convicted ACORN by insinuation, O'Keefe may find himself guilty of an actual crime. Not only that, but the above statement comes close to falsely accusing Landrieu of taking a bribe.
For all O'Keefe's complaints, "journalistic malpractice" -- running around with a camera and selectively editing the tape in order to make his targets look foolish -- is what got him his career. He just thinks the details are only important when the public eye is trained in his direction.
-- A. Serwer
