James O’Keefe confronted Byron Cohen, a prominent advisor at the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy. The confrontation occurred after O’Keefe Media Group released undercover footage showing Cohen admitting that ‘the deep state is real’ and expressing candid views about the bureaucracy.
In the footage, Cohen can be seen discussing how the bureaucratic structure in Washington, D.C., often ‘protects its own interests’ through tactics such as “creating commissions.”
When O’Keefe pressed him to clarify his earlier comments, Cohen appeared defensive, stating, “I’m not really interested in having this conversation.” O’Keefe countered, “You’ve already had the conversation. I have it all recorded.”
O’Keefe asked Cohen to explain whether the bureaucracy’s operations align with democratic principles. O’Keefe specifically questioned if it was a “good thing” for the bureaucracy to operate in the manner Cohen described. Cohen replied, “In general, the bureaucracy ought to implement the policies of the elected leaders.” He further elaborated that the bureaucracy also holds a responsibility to “advise our elected leaders as best they can,” but emphasized that only the “top levels” of civil service are political appointees.
When questioned about his earlier comment suggesting that there’s “probably a good chance that the bureaucracy just crushes” Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s potential appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Cohen refrained from providing further details, choosing instead to disengage from the conversation. “Are we done here?” he asked.
Before Cohen could walk away, O’Keefe delivered a final, stern warning: “You are on notice. You either say these things openly and publicly, or we catch you on tape. Bureaucrats in Washington, you’re on notice… We’re going to be recording you.”
