Whistleblower Ambushed, Project Veritas Threatened After Uncovering Deep State Network Tied to Bill Barr
Key Points
Project Veritas faces threats and a whistleblower survives a possible assassination attempt after exposing corruption involving former Attorney General Bill Barr, media figure Armstrong Williams, and billionaire CEO Julian Reis.
“I know the shot missed you, which is a shame.” - Armstrong Williams, CEO Howard Stirk Holdings
“If you don’t want to end up like Patricia, you’d better take down the post you made exposing my company." - Julian Reis, CEO Superordinary
Following the release of three explosive episodes exposing corruption among Washington, D.C. insiders, including former Attorney General Bill Barr, media figure Armstrong Williams, and billionaire CEO Julian Reis, Project Veritas is facing significant threats. The whistleblower at the center of the investigation, Patricia Lélis, has also survived a possible assassination attempt reportedly linked to her former employer, Williams.
On the morning of Sunday, August 17, 2025, Lélis was awakened by gunshots outside her apartment, one of which struck and damaged her apartment building. A police report and text messages exclusively reviewed by Project Veritas reveal that two days after the attack, Lélis received a threatening message from a phone number tied to Armstrong Williams, stating, “I know the shot missed you, which is a shame.”
The message continued, “Julian will make sure it works next time… at least we know you’re cautious and carry bodyguards. The Project Veritas journalists too?” It further warned, “What did you think? That someone from the government would see your sad story and protect you? [US Prosecutor Russell] Carlberg is not happy with what you did.”
Lélis reported the gunshots and the threatening text to authorities. Project Veritas has obtained the official police report and evidence, including photos of Williams’ passport submitted by a foreign police chief in the country where Lélis currently resides under political asylum. An additional source has relayed to Project Veritas that the country hosting Lélis is preparing to issue a charging document recommending charges against Williams.
Project Veritas journalists are also facing threats from billionaire CEO Julian Reis after exposing Reis Cosmetics, a fraudulent company used to secure E-2 Investor Visas for Reis’ parents. In Episode 1 of the series, Lelis detailed how Williams tasked her with creating a business plan to be submitted to the government for Reis Cosmetics, which was later confirmed to be a sham after Project Veritas visited its registered address and found no operational business.
After our report was published, a signal account linked to Julian Reis sent threatening messages to Project Veritas’ tip line and an individual journalist, stating, “If you don’t want to end up like Patricia, you’d better take down the post you made in my name and exposing my company. Veritas is already on [US Attorney Russell] Carlberg’s radar, and this could end very badly for you.”
Despite these threats, Reis previously confirmed the accuracy of Project Veritas’ reporting. In an August 5th response to Project Veritas, he admitted that Reis Cosmetics never launched, attributing the failure to "COVID," even though the company was established in 2022. Official travel records show that his parents continue to travel in and out of the United States using the visas obtained through the Reis Cosmetics business application.
💥ILLEGAL VISA SCHEME CONFIRMED. Julian Reis has now ADMITTED Reis Cosmetics never launched, citing "COVID" as the reason - despite the company being founded in 2022. In Part 1, Project Veritas exposed a visa fraud scheme involving Armstrong Williams (@Arightside) and former
After Lelis reported Williams and Barr to the FBI for their involvement in securing the visas, the DOJ charged her with visa fraud, partly based on an FBI report from Julian Reis who accused her of defrauding his family, while Williams and Barr have faced no charges.
In April 2025, a DOJ source contacted Project Veritas, alleging a cover-up within the agency, stating, “Barr has put the entire FBI after this woman to get the documents she has.” The source further revealed, “A woman [Lelis] tried to report Barr to the FBI because he is part of a group of people who sell visas to millionaires… she called the FBI to report what was happening, and the following week the FBI went to her house to try to get the evidence… so a prosecutor who is friends with Barr started threatening her…”
Barr has since issued legal threats to Project Veritas, denying all allegations and threatening a lawsuit unless the reports are retracted. Despite the legal and physical risks to its journalists, Project Veritas plans to release Part 4 of its Operation Shadow Government series, which will further expose the government’s ongoing targeting of Lélis and the threats she continues to face while in hiding, including from U.S. government prosecutors.
Project Veritas has repeatedly sought comment from Attorney General Bondi, Director Patel, and other DOJ officials regarding the threats and irregularities in the case, but no response has been received. Sources indicate that Bondi has instructed her team to suppress Project Veritas’ reporting.
Project Veritas remains committed to uncovering the truth.
🚨BREAKING: Project Veritas Whistleblower Ambushed by Gunmen! Two Days Later, a Chilling Message from Former Boss Armstrong Williams’ Linked Phone: ‘A Shame' the Shot Missed Whistleblower Patricia Lelis ambushed by gunmen on Aug. 17, 2025, with a bullet striking her apartment
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About Project Veritas
Project Veritas is a non-profit investigative news organization conducting undercover reporting. Project Veritas investigates and exposes corruption, dishonesty, self-dealing, waste, fraud, and other misconduct in both public and private institutions to achieve a more ethical and transparent society. Project Veritas is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.