Source: Politics<\/p>\n
James O\u2019Keefe, the leader and founder of the conservative group Project Veritas, has been removed from the organization, he said in a speech to staff posted online Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been stripped of my authority as CEO and removed from the board of directors,\u201d O\u2019Keefe said in anearly 45-minute video<\/a>, reposted by The New York Times.<\/p>\n The organization, known for its undercover sting operations, usually against liberals and members of the media, faced afederal probe<\/a> relating to the alleged theft and trafficking of a diary and other personal items from President Joe Biden\u2019s daughter Ashley Biden. The group\u2019s tactics, including hidden-camera expos\u00e9s, have faced criticism outside of conservative circles.<\/p>\n Staffers at Project Veritas told board members earlier this month that O\u2019Keefe was \u201coutright cruel\u201d to his employees,the Daily Beast reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a hard guy to work for sometimes,\u201d O\u2019Keefe said in the video released on Monday, acknowledging that he could be \u201cvery hurried\u201d when interacting with staff.<\/p>\n Democratic consulting firms targeted by Project Veritas won$120,000 in damages<\/a> from a federal court jury last year, in connection with the actions of one of the organization\u2019s former operatives.<\/p>\n O\u2019Keefe said in the video that he didn\u2019t know why he had been ousted \u2014 \u201cor, specifically, why this is happening suddenly, right now.\u201d<\/p>\n