The group's productions have been widely criticized and dismissed as misleading, fabricated or taken out of context; a failed attempt to sting The Washington Post led to widespread mockery.[4][5] O'Keefe and Project Veritas have been sued for defamation repeatedly, at least one of those suits leading to an apology and $100,000 payment.[6][7][8] O'Keefe has been barred from fundraising for Project Veritas in Florida and other states because of his federal criminal record for entering a federal building under fraudulent pretenses.[9]