Investigative journalist James O’Keefe revealed body cam footage he obtained showing police working with New Jersey school officials who told police they were concerned about a group of people who seemed “Trumpish” at a board meeting.
Police were called by Livingston Public Schools because officials didn’t recognize the men and thought they looked “a little scary.”
O’Keefe, who is CEO of O’Keefe Media Group and was previously with Project Veritas, said he and some O’Keefe Media Group associates attended and secretly recorded the meeting.
O’Keefe shared the raw police body cam footage, which can be watched below:
RAW: For full transparency I'm sharing the raw police body cam footage depicting the collusion between the Livingston School Board and local police. Are you interested in learning how to hold your local school board accountable? Take my masterclass: https://t.co/3mjtKPQv0T pic.twitter.com/B70oiZndfp
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) August 31, 2023
Officials “guessed” the people were there for the discussion on equity. They also acknowledged the group wasn’t causing any issues.
A school official called Toni McLaughlin told the officer said they were people they hadn’t seen before.
“There’s about eight of them,” she said. “None of the (administrators) recognize them as past students, they’re not parents, they’re different looking — some, they look Trumpish. They just look a little scary. They don’t look like Livingston. They might be.”
The officer asked if she was worried O’Keefe Media Group was something like Antifa.
“That’s exactly what we’re thinking,” McLaughlin said.
Another school official volunteered to take video of the license plates on cars so they could be scanned by the officer.
When O’Keefe and his partners left the building, the officer went outside to ensure they were leaving. O’Keefe asked who called the police and let the officer know he is a journalist. The officer said he didn’t know who called the police. When he went back inside the building, he called O’Keefe a “rabble-rouser” and said he should “get a life.”
The officer questioned why O’Keefe would go to a “local small town” school board meeting and he should instead go to the governor or state board of education.
The officer said O’Keefe should worry about his own town and his own county.
“I could care less you’re a journalist,” the officer said. “I’m not here to answer your questions. I don’t answer to him. Technically, do they have a right to do this?”
McLaughlin claimed they didn’t as she said they have to be a Livingston resident or have some connection to the town to attend school board meetings.
O’Keefe pointed out New Jersey state code “ensures the public can attend all school board meetings in the state regardless of where (someone) lives.”
O’Keefe will be a featured speaker at the Sept. 16 Iowa Liberty Fest. The event will be held in Johnston. Tickets are available here.
BREAKING: Police bodycam footage shows NJ School Board officials calling police on citizens they don’t recognize who look “TRUMPISH!” Police colluded with school officials to scan license plates of all attendees who looked 'different'.
POLICE: 'I don't answer to journalists.' pic.twitter.com/9cVIlINwwA
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) August 31, 2023
Really?! Imagine what would happen if conservatives censored liberal students!