Democratic operative fired after undercover video suggests egging on Trump supporters


On Tuesday, the group Democracy Partners severed ties with a regional contractor named Scott Foval, who was captured on a secretly recorded video talking about sending people to Donald Trump events to get Trump supporters to "pop off" and hit them, with the purported goal of making Trump look bad. Foval was also fired from Americans United for Change, the group under contract to Democracy Partners, which in turn was hired by the Democratic National Committee. "It's a matter of showing up, to want to get into their rally, in a Planned Parenthood T-shirt, or 'Trump is a Nazi,' you know," Foval is recorded saying. "You can message to draw them out, and draw them out to punch you."
The man who hired Foval, Democratic operative Robert Creamer, said that Foval was engaging in "unprofessional and careless hypothetical conversations" and that "none of the schemes described in this video ever took place." Creamer, who is married to Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), also stepped down from his role working with the DNC and Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.
The video was shot and edited by Project Veritas, the group led by conservative activist James O'Keefe. "While Project Veritas has been known to offer misleading video out of context, some of the language and tactics referenced in the video are troubling even as a theory or proposal never executed," Clinton campaign spokesman Zac Petkanas said in a statement. "We support the Democratic National Committee's appropriate action addressing this matter." You can learn more in the CNN report below. Peter Weber
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The party bringing Trump-style populism to Japan
Under The Radar Far-right party is ‘Rise of Sanseito is ‘shattering’ the belief that Japan is ‘immune’ to populism’ the belief that Japan is ‘immune’ to populism
-
Southern barbecue: This year’s top three
Feature A weekend-only restaurant, a 90-year-old pitmaster, and more
-
Film reviews: Anemone and The Smashing Machine
Feature A recluse receives an unwelcome guest and a pioneering UFC fighter battles addiction
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US