A Georgetown University professor’s carefully constructed public persona shattered when a hidden camera revealed a disturbing private reality. Jonathan Franklin, an adjunct professor and former NPR correspondent, was recorded making deeply offensive and racially charged statements during a clandestine encounter.
The setup was deceptively simple: an undercover date arranged with investigative journalist James O’Keefe. Franklin, who teaches a course on interviewing and sourcing, unknowingly agreed to meet O’Keefe, who was disguised with nothing more than a pair of glasses.
The conversation quickly descended into venomous attacks on prominent Black conservatives. Candace Owens was dismissed with a hateful slur, and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was subjected to the same degrading language. Franklin’s prejudice wasn’t limited to those he disagreed with politically.
He openly disparaged his colleagues, stating he “works with stupid white people.” The irony was stark – a professor tasked with teaching ethical journalism openly displaying blatant bias and contempt. He was, in effect, trashing O’Keefe to O’Keefe himself, unaware of his companion’s true identity.
The moment of revelation came when O’Keefe removed his disguise, calmly stating, “Well, the thing is, I actually am James O’Keefe.” Franklin’s reaction was immediate and dramatic; he bolted from the restaurant, attempting to escape the consequences of his words.
Outside the restaurant, as O’Keefe and his cameraman attempted to engage Franklin, the situation escalated. Franklin reportedly attempted to physically assault the cameraman, further demonstrating a volatile and aggressive character hidden beneath a veneer of academic respectability.
University records confirm Franklin is currently employed to instruct students on the crucial skill of effective interviewing. This is happening even as evidence surfaces of his own deeply ingrained biases and use of racial slurs – a clear contradiction of the journalistic principles he is supposed to impart.
During the recorded encounter, Franklin also falsely claimed to be a national correspondent for CBS News, a fabrication he later admitted to. This deception adds another layer to the unraveling of his credibility and raises questions about the integrity of his professional background.
The recordings paint a disturbing picture of a man whose private beliefs stand in stark opposition to the values of inclusivity and respect he ostensibly promotes. The incident has ignited a firestorm of controversy, forcing a reckoning with issues of bias and hypocrisy within academic institutions.
