Feds Hid Edits in Right-Wing Video Used to Prosecute Anti-Trump Protesters

[DonViejo]

Source: The Daily Beast




James O’Keefe’s outfit filmed activists talking before the inauguration, and prosecutors used it as evidence to say they conspired to riot. Turns out crucial moments were cut out.

KELLY WEILL
05.25.18 4:48 AM ET

Federal prosecutors hid evidence from anti-Trump activists set to go on trial, two judges ruled this week.

For months, prosecutors have claimed a video by the conservative group Project Veritas proved that anti-Trump activists conspired to riot outside his inauguration. Court rules required the prosecution to disclose all edits made to the Project Veritas video, which purports to show some anti-Trump activists discussing the protest in advance. Instead, prosecutors passed off an edited video as undoctored, a judge ruled Wednesday and a second judge confirmed Thursday. The ruling could have major implications for the case — if the video hasn’t already tainted proceedings.

Following mass arrests outside President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2017, D.C. prosecutors charged approximately 200 people with conspiracy to riot and damage property. The mass indictment relied on evidence as flimsy as people wearing black clothing or chanting anti-capitalist slogans. If convicted on all counts, defendants face decades in prison.

So far, the case hasn’t held up in court. The first six defendants were tried in December and cleared of all charges. Shortly thereafter, prosecutors dropped the charges against 129 more defendants. But dozens remain charged. The Project Veritas video, which purportedly showed activists discussing plans to disrupt pro-Trump inauguration celebrations days before the protest, was expected to be evidence in a number of those trials. The defendants, including one who says he wasn’t even at the protest, pushed back, citing the reputations of Project Veritas and its founder James O’Keefe, who have been accused of deceptive editing videos, among other dubious tactics.

This week, the defense pointed out a bigger problem with the Project Veritas video.

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/feds-hid-edits-in-right-wing-video-used-to-prosecute-anti-trump-protesters

[pangaia]

1. There will be more of this on the way...

FEDS of one type or another.. FBI most likely,, becoming the American NKVD

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. No. Mueller is NOT NKVD. Duh. It is common on Right Wing to tar the whole FBI. Please do not. . .nt

[pangaia]

4. Of COURSE he is not... Who said he was???

And of course the entire FBI is not NKVD. None of them are, as far as I know..

My point being, that if the fascists are not stopped that very well COULD become the result... The FBI, and every other federal agency, would be turned into something serving the dictatorship, or whatever one wants to call it.

Look at how many life time professionals are already quiting in so many agencies., or being pushed out, or fired, somehow replaced....

[Fred Sanders]

9. Incredible that convict O'Keefe would be considered credibile, with his

unbroken string of faked videos with heavy editing all with a political purpose.

Really, prosecutors, WTF, are you that stupid/ignorant??

[pangaia]

10. I know. Tell me about it. WHO in the 'entire world' does not know he and his jokers are fakes?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Isn't it a crime for prosecutors to hide evidence from the defense like that?

[azureblue]

5. yes it is

an it is grounds for disbarment and censure, too. The judge should give the prosecution a good scolding and warning, fro intentionally deceiving (lying) the court. Also the defendants can sue for and recover all expenses incurred for defending themselves.

[ret5hd]

6. A good scolding. Yes, a good, very good scolding.

100 times on the blackboard: I will not withhold evidence.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

7. Project Veritas (ie, Project Truth) should change its name to

Project Mendacium (Project Lie)

[pangaia]

11. The word LIED should always be used instead of...

different facts
misquoted
incorrectly stated
to the best of my knowledge
I don't know
that was my information at the time
misled

And my all time favorite--

misspoke myself

[erronis]

14. Wish I had that list when my mother caught me up in one of my LIES!

[MurrayDelph]

17. Project Veritas is one of those

counter-named organizations, that are actually trying to defeat that which it is named for.

Other examples include:
American Cancer Society
National Parkinson Foundation
American Diabetes Association
Excellence in Broadcasting

[truthisfreedom]

8. In flames. That's how all of these assholes should go down,

In fucking flames. LOCK THEM UP! O’Keefe first!

[MrScorpio]

12. Well, well, well, once more "Project Veritas" turned out to be lying pieces of shit...

No one should be surprised by this.

[musette_sf]

13. "prosecutors passed off an edited video as undoctored"

There has NEVER been a video touched by notorious dildo lube boat captain O'Queef that ISN'T undoctored.

?zoom=2

https://wonkette.com/424143/james-okeefe-tries-to-get-cnn-reporter-onto-his-dildo-lube-boat

[Javaman]

15. in other news...

o'keefe is still a vile piece of shit right wing brown noser.

[jmowreader]

16. Did the defense know the prosecution exhibit was from O'Keefe?

If they did, the defendants should be able to sue their lawyers for incompetence. O’Keefe is famous for cutting video to make it say what he wants it to.

[wolfie001]

18. Hiding/witholding evidence is a:

Violation of due process. Seems pretty textbook argument to me. Not a lawyer but just a common sense True Blue Union Democrat!