U.S. News
Prosecutors may gain access to 900+ documents in Biden diary investigation
By Jake Beardslee · December 30, 2023
In brief…
- Documents relate to alleged theft of Ashley Biden's diary, investigation into Project Veritas
- Two individuals pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport stolen property, hoped to sell items to Trump
- Project Veritas calls probe attempt to "stifle the press," argues activities were legal newsgathering
- Group considering appeal of court ruling allowing document access
The criminal investigation into the alleged theft of Ashley Biden’s diary may soon gain access to over 900 documents from the conservative group Project Veritas. A federal judge rejected Project Veritas’ First Amendment claims, ruling the materials can be given to prosecutors by January 5th.
The documents were obtained in November 2021 raids on residences of Project Veritas members, including founder James O’Keefe. Lawyers for Project Veritas argue the probe “seems undertaken not to vindicate any real interests of justice, but rather to stifle the press from investigating the President’s family.” They say it’s “impossible to imagine the government investigating an abandoned diary (or perhaps the other belongings left behind with it), had the diary not been written by someone with the last name ‘Biden,’” Politico reported.
The judge dismissed the First Amendment arguments as “inconsistent with Supreme Court precedent,” noting two individuals had publicly pleaded guilty in the case, ABC News reported. Aimee Harris and Robert Kurlander admitted conspiring to transport stolen property across state lines after taking items from a friend’s Florida home where Ashley Biden had stored belongings. They hoped to sell the material to the Trump campaign but were rebuffed. Project Veritas allegedly paid them $20,000 each to bring the diary and other items to New York.
Project Veritas maintains its activities were legal newsgathering. The group has not been criminally charged. CEO Hannah Giles recently quit, alleging past illegality and financial issues at Project Veritas.