Episode 3: Bribes and Burner Phones: Whistleblower Outs Deep State Scheme Connecting NYC Mayor, Senator, and Conservative Broadcaster to Foreign Bribes

A whistleblower facing U.S. Department of Justice indictment and now in political asylum in a undisclosed location abroad has shared compelling evidence with Project Veritas pointing to a web of illegal lobbying, foreign bribes, and money laundering orchestrated by media personality Armstrong Williams and involving figures such as New York City Mayor Eric Adams, former Senator Bob Menendez (recently sentenced to prison), Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, and others, with connections to Qatar and Turkey. Lélis provided Project Veritas with notes, burner phone records, and other documents detailing these operations from 2021-2023.

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Lélis, who joined Armstrong Williams’ Howard Stirk Holdings media firm as a journalist in 2021, claims that Williams secures deals under the guise of producing segments for his TV show, but in fact the funds and luxury perks from groups like Turkish Airlines and Qatar are actually compensation for undisclosed lobbying. Notably, Williams is not registered as a lobbyist.

TURKEY

In Part three of this series, Lélis’ describes how Williams' company served as a conduit for foreign payments from countries like Turkey and Qatar. “[Armstrong] charges for the shows, like he did with Turkish Airlines… and that’s why he received this travel to go to Turkey, ” she states.

According to Lélis' notes, photos, and videos dated July 19, 2021, former Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Hasan Murat Mercan is seen in studio to film an interview with Armstrong Williams. Lélis claims that prior to the show a private meeting occurred involving Armstrong, Mercan, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. During this meeting, Mercan allegedly agreed to fund Adams' 2021 election campaign and connect Williams with Turkish Airlines through a representative named Nehir Yardimci, who would handle payments and travel plans.

Notes indicate that Turkey would provide free vacations to Williams and his close associates as compensation for lobbying efforts, with Adams also requesting a free vacation and first-class travel. In exchange, if elected, Adams would expedite licenses and certifications for the Turkish consulate in New York.

“Adams took money from Turkish Airlines because he was a part of the deal,” she stated.

On September 26, 2024, Eric Adams, by then mayor, was indicted on charges of bribery, wire fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign contributions. The allegations included accepting improper benefits from Turkish entities, such as luxury travel and campaign funds, in exchange for favors like expediting approvals for a Turkish consulate. These charges echo Lélis’ claims about the July 19, 2021 meeting.

Project Veritas reviewed photos and videos that show Williams and other Howard Stirk Holdings staff enjoying an August 2021 luxury trip to Turkey with Nehir Yardimci pictured, one month after this alleged meeting.

A spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams responded to Project Veritas’ inquiry about the alleged July 2021 meeting, stating, “No such agreements were made with Turkey. Mayor Adams has said this publicly — and under oath — multiple times.” The spokesperson did not deny the Mayor’s participation in the meeting.

QATAR

More documents from Lélis appear to show additional luxury perks provided to Williams from Qatari diplomats.

An October 2021 text from Williams to Lélis urges her to get in contact with Qatari Ambassador Sheikh Meshal. He further instructs her: “Tomorrow I need you at the office at 5:00am without fail. The driver at the Qatari embassy will leave a package with you, keep it for me…”

Four months later, NY Assemblyman and Howard Stirk Holdings Legal Advisor Clyde Vanel directs Lélis via email to develop a media and PR plan to cash in on additional perks from Qatar: “Armstrong wants more than free tickets to the World Cup, so try to think of something that involves more expenses that we can justify as payments for the TV show. Menendez’ assistant will be able to help you with this.”

Approximately one month later, Vanel instructs Lélis to receive a suitcase containing gold bars delivered by a Qatari driver to the Howard Stirk Holdings office, which she was to hand off to Jason Tuber, then Chief of Staff to Former Democratic Senator Bob Menendez.

A March 18, 2022 email from Vanel to Lélis states: “Take a suitcase that the driver from Qatar will leave at the office door, please, and just give it to [Menendez Chief of Staff] Tuber. Do not open!”

Two months later in June 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at the New Jersey home of former Senator Menendez where they uncovered gold bars worth over $100,000. Additionally, Formula 1 Grand Prix race tickets provided by the Qatari government were among the bribe payoffs prosecutors say Menendez received. Menendez is now serving 11 years in prison for accepting bribes of gold and cash and acting as an agent of Egypt.

Project Veritas reviewed texts and images depicting Armstrong Williams at Formula One races around the same period, specifically the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 12, 2022 of the same year.

BURNER PHONES

In addition to attending meetings with DC insiders and foreign diplomats, Lélis claims she was directed to mail Trump trial-related documents to U.S. politicians, including Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

A March 4, 2022 text from Williams to Lélis states: “Patricia, take an envelope I left on my desk and send it to this address… [Redacted] Atlanta GA 30331. The address matches the address Lélis separately attributed to Willis in a February 23, 2023 meeting which Armstrong, Barr, and Willis had together to discuss possible RICO charges against President Trump. More on those secret meetings is detailed in Part 2.

To conceal their conversations and covert activities, Lélis states that HSH employees were instructed to use burner phones when contacting elected officials, lobbyists, and diplomats.

Lélis seized several burner phones from the office as evidence before reporting to the FBI. Project Veritas examined photos and records from these phones, and confirmed phone numbers belonging to Fani Willis, Former Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade, Former Attorney General Bill Barr, and Judge Juan Merchan, the New York Supreme Court Justice who presided over the 2024 criminal trial of former US president Donald Trump.

Lélis emphasized that her FBI report on these activities, combined with the visa fraud and anti-Trump plotting exposed in prior episodes, triggered her selective prosecution while Williams, Barr, and others remain uncharged.

“It’s very easy to know why I am being prosecuted and no one else is being charged or prosecuted. It’s very easy. I called the FBI to report Bill Barr and Armstrong Williams,” she said.

Project Veritas has corroborated portions of Lélis’ allegations with documents, text messages, and independent sources, including a DOJ official who, in April 2024, informed Project Veritas of an alleged DOJ cover-up, claiming: “Barr has unleashed the full force of the FBI to pursue this woman and seize her documents.”

In the explosive finale, Project Veritas will unveil the shocking truth behind the U.S. government’s relentless case against whistleblower Patrícia Lélis, including threats from government prosecutors. A bombshell tip from DOJ insiders blows this scandal wide open.

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