Former FBI Agent Sues Over Secretly Recorded Videos
In a notable legal case, a former FBI agent and Pentagon contractor has filed a lawsuit against the founder of a conservative nonprofit organization known for conducting hidden camera stings. The lawsuit concerns secretly recorded videos that allegedly capture the contractor making disparaging remarks about President Donald Trump during what he thought was a private date.
Details of the Lawsuit
The individual at the center of this lawsuit, Jamie Mannina, claims that he was deceived by a woman he met through an online dating platform. This woman, presenting herself as a politically liberal nurse, was in fact collaborating with conservative activist James O’Keefe to create a sting operation. The objective, according to Mannina, was to induce him to make inflammatory comments that could be recorded, manipulated, and shared online.
Clips from conversations between Mannina and the woman in January were allegedly edited together to give the impression that he was involved in initiatives to undermine Trump’s presidency. Mannina argues that the resulting articles and videos published online defamed him, portraying him as part of a “deep state” collusion with senior military officials against the president.
Allegations of Editing and Context Manipulation
Mannina does not deny having made certain comments; however, he contends that his words were taken out of context and edited in such a way as to misrepresent his views. He highlights that even the accompanying written description on YouTube contributed to this misleading portrayal.
James O’Keefe and Project Veritas
James O’Keefe established Project Veritas in 2010, although he was ousted from the organization in 2023 due to allegations concerning worker mistreatment and financial mismanagement. O’Keefe has since continued similar sting operations under a new organization he founded, called O’Keefe Media Group. This organization, along with the anonymous woman involved in the sting, is also named in the lawsuit.
In response to the lawsuit, O’Keefe claimed that Mannina “voluntarily” shared his opinions and emphasized the public’s right to hear Mannina’s statements. He noted that Washington, D.C. law only requires the consent of one party to record a conversation and described the lawsuit as an “attack on the First Amendment.” He expressed readiness to challenge the case all the way to an appeals court if necessary.
Specific Claims in the Lawsuit
The lawsuit includes multiple claims: defamation, false light, fraudulent misrepresentation, and violations of the federal Wiretap Act. While acknowledging the district’s consent law for recording conversations, Mannina’s lawsuit insists that the law prohibits recording for the purpose of committing a wrongful act.
The Dates and Recorded Conversations
Central to the lawsuit are two dates Mannina had with the woman in question. During their first meeting, the woman expressed her disapproval of President Trump while probing Mannina about his political beliefs and professional background. He disclosed his previous experience as a “spy catcher” during his tenure as an FBI counterintelligence agent.
During a recorded segment released by O’Keefe, the woman queried Mannina about his “overall assessment of Trump.” In his reply, Mannina described the president as “a sociopathic narcissist only interested in advancing his name, wealth, and fame.” When asked about any potential actions he could take to “protect the American people,” Mannina mentioned he was in discussions with retired generals to consider possible solutions.
Confrontation After the Second Date
Following a second lunch date, as Mannina exited the restaurant, he encountered a man with a microphone who approached him with the statement, “Jamie, you’re a spy hunter, you say. Well, I’m a spy hunter, too, but I’m evidently a better spy hunter than you.” This man was identified as O’Keefe, according to the lawsuit.
Consequently, Mannina was quickly terminated from his position at Booz Allen, a contractor he worked for, after O’Keefe contacted the company’s press office and shared portions of the video from the dates.
Mark Zaid’s Involvement
The case has been filed by Mark Zaid, a well-known attorney in Washington, who often represents government officials and whistleblowers. Notably, Zaid himself recently filed a lawsuit against Trump after the former president revoked his security clearance.
In a statement regarding the nature of the lawsuit, Zaid highlighted that while deception on dating platforms is common, the specific circumstances of this case—creating a fake profile with the intent to target individuals for harmful purposes—crossed an ethical line.
The Impact of Misrepresentation
The lawsuit argues that O’Keefe Media Group mischaracterized Mannina’s statements and professional title, including misleading descriptions in articles published on their platform. One such article proclaimed, “BREAKING VIDEO: Top Pentagon Advisor Reveals On Hidden Camera Conversation ‘with a Couple of Retired Generals to Explore What We Can Do’ to ‘Protect People from Trump,’” further distorting Mannina’s actual role and intentions.
According to the lawsuit, portraying Mannina as a “top Pentagon adviser” when he was merely one among numerous defense contractors aimed to bolster false claims suggesting he was plotting an unlawful coup against the president.
Contextual Background of Targeting
Although the lawsuit does not explicitly state the reasons behind Mannina being targeted, it notes that in 2017, during his tenure at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, he authored three critical articles regarding Trump in reputable outlets like the Huffington Post and The Hill. This prior activity may have contributed to his being targeted in this orchestrated sting operation.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ex-fbi-agent-pentagon-contractor-201618846.html
