Two Floridians pleaded guilty on Thursday, August 25, to a scheme to sell President’s Joe Biden’s daughter’s diary to a conservative group called Project Veritas. The price was $40,000.
Robert Kurlander, 58, of Jupiter, and Aimee Harris, 40, of Palm Beach, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to take stolen property across state lines.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said the pair, “Sought to profit from the theft of another person’s property.”
Aimee Harris stole the items and got in touch with Robert Kurlander, who then contacted Project Veritas. The activist group asked for the photos of the material and paid for the pair to bring the diary to New York.
The story goes that Ashley Biden, the president’s daughter from his first marriage, left her belongings, including her diary, at a friend’s house where she was staying in Delray Beach, Florida in 2020. Harris then moved into the same room that Ashley had vacated, and discovered the belongings. She contacted Kurlander, who excitedly told her that she could make “a ton of money.”
At first, the pair tried to sell the items to former President Donald Trump’s campaign staff, but they were turned down by a representative and told to give the items to the FBI.
Some staffers from Project Veritas met with the two in NYC and offered them $10,000, promising more if they retrieved more items. The couple followed through and were paid $40,000 for two diaries. The couple had turned over Ashley’s tax documents and other items to the group.
Project Veritas claims that they were told by “tipsters” that Ashley Biden had abandoned her belongings. Their position was that they had not handled stolen property. They said they cooperated with police and give the materials to officers upon request.
The FBI was involved and did a search of Project Veritas’ office in New York. The founder of Project Veritas, James O’Keefe, said that because they had not confirmed that the diary belonged to Ashley Biden, they did not publish any excerpts from it.
Charges have not been filed against the activist group, who are known for embarrassing politicians and reporters, often publicizing private information or conversations.
“A journalist’s lawful receipt of material later alleged to be stolen is routine, commonplace and protected by the First Amendment,” Project Veritas said.