Prank Fail: Video Producer O‘Keefe Tries to Lure CNN Host to ’Pleasure Palace’
- Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:26pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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(Editor’s note: Warning — some of the information included in this report is graphic.)
James O’Keefe has put on an act before. He’s the man behind the controversial ACORN pimp video. But he may have outdone himself this time.
In an elaborate scheme that appears to be an attempt to embarrass CNN Investigative Correspondent Abbie Boudreau, O’Keefe reportedly tried to lure Boudreau to riverfront property where he was going to try to seduce her (with cameras rolling) on a boat using candles and, well, props. If not for an O‘Keefe colleague’s conscience, the plan might have worked.
Minutes before Boudreau was set to meet O’Keefe, Izzy Santa — the executive producer of O‘Keefe’s organization Project Veritas — approached Boudreau and revealed the plan.
“Izzy told me that James was going to be dressed up and have strawberries and champagne on the boat, and he was going to hit on me the whole time,” Boudreau said, adding that Santa said she could not go through with the plan because she is a “moral person.”
O’Keefe then came out of a house at the rendezvous property, located on the Patuxent River in Maryland, and tried to convince Boudreau to conduct a recorded interview. After a conversation about the previously agreed upon ground rules of their meeting, Boudreau decided to cancel the meeting and leave the premises.
CNN reports that days before, Santa was struggling with O‘Keefe’s plan. In an e-mail she sent to a Project Veritas donor, the torn producer decided to reveal the devious plan:
She doesn‘t know she is getting on a boat but rather James’ office. James has staged the boat to be a palace of pleasure with all sorts of props, wants to have a bizarre sexual conversation with her. He wants to gag CNN.
An apparent 13-page blueprint of the project was obtained by CNN, which may show why Santa had second thoughts and decided to foil the plot:
Listed under “equipment needed,“ is ”hidden cams on the boat,“ and a ”tripod and overt recorder near the bed, an obvious sex tape machine.”
Among the props listed were a “condom jar, dildos, posters and paintings of naked women, fuzzy handcuffs” and a blindfold.
According to the document, O’Keefe was to record a video of the following script before Boudreau arrived: “My name is James. I work in video activism and journalism. I’ve been approached by CNN for an interview where I know what their angle is: they want to portray me and my friends as crazies, as non-journalists, as unprofessional and likely as homophobes, racists or bigots of some sort….
“Instead, I’ve decided to have a little fun. Instead of giving her a serious interview, I’m going to punk CNN. Abbie has been trying to seduce me to use me, in order to spin a lie about me. So, I’m going to seduce her, on camera, to use her for a video. This bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who comes on at five will get a taste of her own medicine, she‘ll get seduced on camera and you’ll get to see the awkwardness and the aftermath.
“Please sit back and enjoy the show.”
O’Keefe denied that the prank was going to be as dirty as the planning document outlines. In an e-mail to CNN he claimed he didn‘t create the document and didn’t agree with all of it:
That is not my work product. When it was sent to me, I immediately found certain elements highly objectionable and inappropriate, and did not consider them for one minute following it.
The plan was in fact not drafted by O’Keefe, but by a Ben Wetmore. In response to a request for comment by CNN, Wetmore recorded a YouTube video criticizing CNN’s coverage of the ACORN scandal:
Santa has been relieved of most of her duties at Project Veritas yet remains on payroll. Read the entire CNN story here, and view Boudreau’s account of the events below:
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Comments (104)
HippoNips
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 4:26pmThis seems to be only Act One of the Punk of CNN.
Report Post »The objective- Expose CNN for sending a hot woman to seduce O’Keefe so they run stories about his failled and CNN imagined “family values”.
The first Act, set up a pretend encounter of a failed punk so CNN will get on record with all kinds of claims.
Act 2, send CNN a phony 13 page plan so they can report on it as fact
Act 3, Release the film footage and audio of CNN‘s operative trying to seduce O’Keefe, exposing CNN for the same thing they just claimed O’Keefe was doiing.
caitlynsdad
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 4:48pmWickedly clever on O‘Keefe’s part if you’re right, but O’Keefe might have more of the one-hit-wonder syndrome about him. Sad to say, we have our idiots on our side, and my fear is less that we‘ve jumped the gun in condemning O’Keefe and more that these kind of shenanigans will end up being used by the MSM to discredit the ACORN story and other legitimate muckraking.
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 4:18pmI smell a rat. No one smart enough to bust Acorn is dumb enough to do what *CNN* reported…
Report Post »urbanserf
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 4:15pmLook – without the pimp glasses and Hannah Giles I wouldn’t know this kid from a prairie dog but let’s not forget the ACORN footage he was able to obtain. Ok, was this just a stupid mistake on his part? Possibly, but let’s not be so quick to throw the second stone. In all honesty, just the presumption that CNN’s goal was ultimately to show his crew “as crazies, as non-journalists, as unprofessional and likely as homophobes, racists or bigots of some sort…” is not that far fetched.
Did he really do anything that awful? Let’s look at the facts, the “drive by media” has no problems calling all conservatives old white racists, or bible clinching gun carrying nut jobs regardless of the facts. They incessantly talk about the racism and hate that spews from the “Tea Party”, but never talk about the burning cars, stones being thrown, riots etc… Why, simple, they will report that they were angry environmentalist, war protesters, or an unhappy immigrant rally even though the unruly mobs are always a faction of the (Democratic, Progressive) base.
If he’s a *****, then send him on his way, but if it was a mistake, lapse in judgment, or we simply don’t know all sides of this story then let him be. More that anything else I think this is just the start of a collective effort to divide (ridicule) and conquer. The movement (TEA) continues to grow the more they nudge, so why not now try and use spitballs to pull us apart?
Just the opinions of a non-white, non-middle-aged, yet proud – but according to CNN, TEA ******
Report Post »ChrisNelson
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:58pmThis would have been really funny even though I have never even heard of Abbie Boudreau.
Report Post »Cody32084
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:50pmIts really unbelievable how fast people will listen to CNN given their past, I am not saying Okeefe didn’t try this prank, but, If He did it just shows that He is really still just a child.
Having said that, we ARE DEALING WITH CNN HERE, Doing a story on CONSERVATIVES!!!!! Really Guys! Dan Rather,Chris Mathews,RICK SANCHEZ.
This passes the smell test with no corroboration from even the accomplice with “dirt on her lip” and the quivering lip???? REALLY??!
Sometimes I think we get what we deserve, Sadly.
Report Post »mcFirst
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:38pmI never heard of her. I wonder this whole think is a stunt.
Seemed to work well for her.
Report Post »dressseller
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:33pmVery disappointed in him ..and yes.. he hurt the cause and gave liberals an easy story to paint all conservatives as behaving and stooping to the level that he did. We are not like this. We are not perfect but we have integrity. We don’t believe as the left does that the ends justify the means.
Mr. O’Keefe acted much more like a progressive here and not as a conservative. Where is this man’s judgment?
Report Post »Leigh
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:33pmJames was very sneaky when he busted the media and ACORN with his slow release of the prostitute tapes. I question whether CNN was innocently following young Republicans around, so I am going to wait for the continuation before I pass judgement on Mr. O’Keefe. I hope the CNN reporter didn’t do anything to embarrass herself while she followed the young Republicans around. It might come back to bite her. Interesting that the whistleblower, Santa, is still on Veritas’ payroll. The plot thickens? Or, O’Keefe may just be a young fool. We’ll see.
Report Post »Waiting4George
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:30pmThere once was pixie named James
Report Post »Who reached for riches and fame.
CNN wants to smear me
I’ll punk them sincerely
Tricky pixie was brought to shame.
mrdbcooper
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 5:07pmthey gottcha Jimmy…oops
Report Post »21stCenturyPatriot
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:25pmJames made a big splash once and now has to try to make a bigger splash. Instead all he can do is crash. What an immature idiot he has become.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:23pmThis is (at least) curious; if true or, false.
Almost as curious: How are CNN’s ratings these days?
Report Post »They should be checked tomorrow, comparred to yesterday. No?
NukeHaze
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 2:30amGood point. Possibly set him up for ratings even. Not to mention that the panic has truly set in coming up on elections. Half of the Dems are refusing to let the WH help them run for reelection while the other half are still in denial about the anti incumbent wave, err, tsunami. Half of the Republicans are likely seeing the same anti incumbent sentiment and trying to look more conservative as the election approaches while the other half are being coerced by liberal constituents acting as supporters to run as write ins after losing their primaries to better candidates.
I do bet their ratings will go up until the story dies.
Report Post »Windsong
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:20pmWell, James, after doing some really good reporting, you‘ve lowered yourself to the standards of the very people you’ve been you been exposing. It’ll be a long climb upward now…to earn the respect of the American people again.
Report Post »We can‘t afford to waste time on ’set-ups’. We already know about the credibility of CNN. Go back to reporting something worthwhile and meaningful…and honest.
Mike777
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:11pmWhere’s the CNN reporters proof ? I personally don’t believe CNN without some evidence. We got to remember these are a bunch of progressives at CNN.
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:41pmi have the same question wheres the beef? we need more than CNNs word for it. i wouldnt belive CNNs weather report with out proof
Report Post »dec143
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:53amsomething isn’t right here… There is not proof. If they have something they need to put up or shut up. I really don’t think this kid is that stupid, could be, but I don’t think so.
Report Post »caitlynsdad
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:09pmDitto, N37BU6. Leftist bloggers, take note: We repudiate this fool. Wake me up when Keith Olbermann names Alan Grayson WPITW.
Report Post »OldFlyGuy
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:01pmOK, when he exposed ACORN I was with him but this was sleazy trick. He is apparently taken with himself and, in my mind, can no longer be trusted to do straight-up investigative journalism. I will always have some doubt now that he will in the future setup the situation in some manner. Shame on him.
Report Post »rfycom
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:01pmWell the Pleasure Palace used to be a swingers club in Tampa patronized by mostly right winkers.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:59pm“O’Keefe denied that the prank was going to be as dirty as the planning document outlines. In an e-mail to CNN he claimed he didn‘t create the document and didn’t agree with all of it:
That is not my work product. When it was sent to me, I immediately found certain elements highly objectionable and inappropriate, and did not consider them for one minute following it.”
This is a confusing story, to say the least. Not interested.
Report Post »Zoe
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 4:44pmI’m very Interested- Acorn, The Census , The Senators(?) office.
Frankly I‘m behind O’Keeffe 100%
BUT…… if he’s moved to the Dark-side….. ; (
The truth will come out……….
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:56pmLEFTISTS, TAKE NOTES:
Notice how we throw this idiot out on his ass? That’s called integrity, and upholding your principles. We don’t circle the wagons and go into denial mode like you did with Clinton (BJ) Byrd (KKK) and all the rest.
See how easy it is?
Report Post »moriarty70
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 4:24pmYou’re talking about politic figures not news figures. Since O’Keefe is an activist/journalist who got caught doing something stupid the better analogy would probably be Helen Thomas.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 7:16pm@moriarty70
Sorry, I don’t see the relevance in separating people by profession. The same rules apply; wrong is wrong. No need to make it any more complicated than that.
Report Post »moriarty70
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:22pmI wasn’t looking at them in terms of profession, but in terms of standing. The only way this analogy works is if you believe that O’Keefe was a core part of the Republican party, since the two you mention were members therein. Thomas is more apt in that she supported the Democrats but wasn’t one of them.
Not to mention that what you’re blaming Clinton for makes no sense. Consenting “not sex” between to people of legal age? That is nothing even close to this situation that, if true, boarders on sexual assault.
Report Post »Buck Bagaw
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:49pmBefore you call him an idiot and throw him out on his ass, don’t you think we should get the rest of the story first??
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:53pmShane on him. I am glad his co worker outted him.
Report Post »Zorro6821
Posted on October 1, 2010 at 7:36amO‘Keefe your 15 minutes of fame are up. Time to get a real job!!
Zorro
Report Post »Butterfly2012
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:46pmWell, we know how low he would go for a story. I wonder how low she would have gone?
Report Post »Where is the integrity? The honor? The TRUTH? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
jmb847
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:44pmI was fine with his Acorn videos and the result of releasing them but this if true is pure sleaze and we don’t need any of it.
Report Post »KEA
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:44pmTime got move on to more important things. Setting people up should be left to a police investigation. Uncovering a scam is another story. This sounds like he was setting a person up and thats not right.
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:43pmhe is dumb. i started thinking that back when he tried to get in a govt officials office by dressing up as a phone utility worker. He should have quit while he was ahead or not sink to such low levels to get a story. what story was he chasing anyway?
Report Post »solaveritas
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:40pmNow is the time for nothing but “straight up” investigative reporting.
Report Post »O’Keefe must realize that “busted schemes” play right into the hands of the left who, with their compliant liberal media, use it for huge amounts of propaganda.
This hurts the movement of Constitutional integrity and common sense.
ron the veteran
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:34pmwait wait wait wait! all we have is her word for this. who ya gonna belive? CNN? lmao i think not this sounds like hooey to me……. nice try CNN but no sale…….
Report Post »nkawtg
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:53pmI agree the guy was stupid, but think a minute about his plot. Would he have been able to seduce a young woman out of the blue without some prior indication that she was willing in the first place? So in that light his script made sense because he claimed “Abbie has been trying to seduce me to use me, in order to spin a lie about me”.
Report Post »There is more to this story folks, but it will be pure spin at CNN.
moriarty70
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:58pmThere’s going to be a full report Saturday, my guess is during prime time. It’ll feature e-mails showing that O’Keefe was directly in on this. And considering O’Keefe has been blatent about his bias and refusual to deal with all but one media outlet, I‘m willing to believe he’d sink to this level.
Report Post »mrdbcooper
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 5:05pmAdolescence…time to grow up and get a job…hope you can still make it in journalism…you are good but not yet an adult.
Report Post »Bill
Eagle07
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 6:33pmThis only diminishes his credibility the dems are loving it.Acorn is probably throwing a party as we speak.
Report Post »NukeHaze
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 2:19amThis sounds like a pre-emptive strike to discredit him before he comes out with the Waters case he was working on. Name calling, discrediting, even stirring up to anger for purposes of entrapment are all par for the course especially with the radical history of CNN (Ted Turner and Jane Fonda’s baby, which by the way, has been around and spewing left wing propaganda from their pulpit for years before Glenn {for those who think Beck is somehow privileged and favored by having successful shows}) which has done everything including sleeping with the enemy to get the story they wanted.
This sounds a bit far fetched, even for O’Keefe. If it is true, I say he was definitely making an immature move that discredits his work done previously where he likely should have gotten a Pulitzer. Now, if this is untrue and a smear against him for the damage he dealt to the left, I would love to see an air tight alibi that he could slap them in the face with along with multiple lawsuits. We will not likely know the whole story but I must say that although I do not wish it done that way, it would not be without gratification to see CNN’s investigative journalists get embarrassed or even humiliated with no spin control caught in the act of perversely distorting a story in order to misinform the public or doing “whatever it takes” to get a story out of something just for ratings.
Will be keeping up on this one here and @Breitbart.
Report Post »iamhungry
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 12:45pm@RonTheVeteran. No, you have the words of O‘Keefe’s assistant (see email in article) and the “plan” document that O‘Keefe agrees is real but it’s just he wasn’t going to follow through on it. Even though his assistant thinks he was and he had a boat with champagne and strawberries ready.
Did O’Keefe really think he was going to seduce her? He certainly has a high opinion of himself.
Report Post »SummerB
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:34pmThis whole thing is utterly stupid. James is an idiot. He just zapped his own integrity. Stupid kid!
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:59pmcheers on that.
Report Post »ME
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:15pmThat is kind of his MO so not sure that he was ever a serious about the job just the topics, I mean a pimp and underage prostitutes for acorn. Its the out of the box ideas that have seem to get the job done for him why not let a paid prostitute I mean reporter get screwed in her own trap. This is more for a youtube generation then hardcore Glenn fans ME included:) and I can appreciate that, think John Stewart and Colbert Report. only with a consecutive why do they always get to have the fun???
Report Post »Joseph_Plumb_Martin
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:36pmSee the list of the things they obtained for this stunt? This guy knows how to party
Report Post »dressseller
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:37pmIt does bear noting that at least the overwhelming responders here to the story disagree strongly with what Mr. O’Keefe did. Good for us. When a member of the left does something dispicable….the left usually backs them up, supports them, spins the story, and blames it on Bush (or other conservatives). …We don’t do that (usually). If someone does something stupid within our ranks.. we call them out on it and hold them accountable the majority of the time. Good for us ..It’s the right thing to do.
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:38pmwheres the proof? video anything but just her word. dont trust CNN
Report Post »Time 2 Revolt
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 3:40pmHe was trying to one-up his last “piece” and it backfired on him. The ACORN thing was awesome, but this is ridiculous. Stay classy, O’Keefe, or no one will care what kind of stuff you “uncover”.
Integrity is everything.
Report Post »firstHat
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 4:10pmagreed. Not funny. Not useful. Simply stupid
Report Post »prepper1776
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 4:16pmi agree
Report Post »LadybugsTX
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 4:56pmHaving only this article as a reference, it sounds to me like it was a couple of guys joking back and forth on email about what the ultimate punk on CNN would be. Like I said, I wouldn’t bet any money on that as my knowledge on the subject is limited to this article, but remember the other day when we were volleying jabs back and forth on the article about how 70% of Americans don’t know who Ed Shultz and Rachel Madcow are? Well apply that to these two guys volleying quips back and forth about how to drop an SNL moment on CNN. Who knows, maybe this was really their plan. Either way, they were surely stabbed in the back by the female staffer who, no doubt was looking to be their next Hanna Jiles with all of the exposure that implies.
It’s unfortunate if this is true. O’Keefe gave us what could quite possibly be the expose of the century with ACORN. However, this combined with the stunt at Mary Landreau‘s office tells me he’s now trying to top the sensationalism of his ACORN story instead of just focusing on getting the truth through honest investigative journalism.
Report Post »ConservativeSteve
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 6:02pmNot so sure I see what is wrong with what he did. James indicates that she was trying to use her “womanly wiles” on him to get an interview and he was trying to see how far she would go. He was taping, had a woman involved who is obviously not morally tainted and I believe he was going to try to expose this skank and her skank employer.
What did he do that was wrong? Note how SHE objected to the interview being recorded? Really? Why would an objective reporter object to an accurate record of conversations being taken?
James, keep up the good work exposing those who need to be exposed.
NOTE: Client #9 Elliot Spitzer is getting his own show on CNN – yeah ……. they are a moral highground
Report Post »Buck Bagaw
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:03pmSorry, but this doesn’t pass the smell test.
Report Post »katnandu
Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:58pmHe did some amazing things…exposing Acorn. This was a stupid stunt and I wish he hadn’t attempted it. He was on to an investigation of Waters and now no one will listen. That is too bad. Advice…. apologize and get serious, or find another line of work.
Report Post »AzMike
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 12:10amWay to go O’keef. You went from hero to zero and completely ruined what you had done to discredit Acorn in one selfish stupid self agrandizing moment. Thanks for the complete failure you dork.
Report Post »DrammyCoke
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 7:22amThe harder this kid tries the weirder it gets. Setting up a woman to be video taped having sex? Is having sex illegal?
Report Post »RightWrite
Posted on September 30, 2010 at 2:53pmYou few condemn James before hearing his side of the story. Since when do you believe CNN and its’ leftist cronies?
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