Right-wing activist group Project Veritas and its ex- leader have renounced bogus claims that a Pennsylvania postmaster illegally backdated mail-in ballots during the 2020 US election, highlighting the power of litigation in combatting disinformation even years later.
The organization and its founder James O’Keefe, known for sting operations targeting progressives, admitted in statements Monday they had helped broadcast the lie, after settling a defamation lawsuit brought by the postmaster.
The settlement is the latest in a string of such suits targeting those who intentionally spread lies about the 2020 US presidential election.
Project Veritas admitted to having amplified a mail carrier’s claims that he overheard postmaster Robert Weisenbach discussing a scheme to illegally backdate late mail-in ballots, an allegation that the group spread in articles and videos published after the 2020 election.
“Neither Mr. Weisenbach nor any other USPS employee in Erie, Pennsylvania, engaged in election fraud or any other wrongdoing related to mail-in ballots,” both of their statements said, adding that there is “no evidence” fraud occurred.