Pastor allegedly admits that he planted hidden camera in church bathroom for 2 years: 'It's devastating'



A now-former pastor in Michigan is accused of planting a hidden camera in a church bathroom for at least two years, according to authorities.

Will Johnson, 37, had been a worship pastor/director at the 2|42 Community Church in Brighton, which is roughly 20 miles north of Ann Arbor. However, Johnson was terminated after a church staff member allegedly found a hidden camera in a "non-public, unisex bathroom in the [church’s] backstage area,” executive pastor of ministry operations Eric Rauch told the Detroit News.

'We so deeply want our community to know about the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and your world gets flipped upside down.'

Craig Ryan — chairman of 2|42 Community Church’s leadership advisory team — informed ChurchLeaders, “Will Johnson, our former worship pastor/director, confessed to church leadership that he placed the camera in that location, and he was immediately terminated.”

Church leaders notified local authorities, and officials with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office on Friday night arrested Johnson at his home in Howell.

Johnson reportedly admitted to sheriff’s detectives that he had hidden a camera in a church bathroom intermittently for the last two years and targeted specific church employees who were known to use it.

On Sunday, Johnson was charged with tampering with evidence, using a computer to commit a crime, and surveilling an unclothed person — a felony.

If convicted, he faces a maximum of four years in prison for the tampering with evidence charge, up to two years for the charge of surveilling an unclothed person, and as many as two years for the charge of using a computer to commit a crime.

Johnson was being held at the Livingston County Jail where his bond is set at $250,000.

Electronic devices were seized from his home and will undergo forensic analysis, the sheriff's office said.

Church leaders said in a statement posted to Facebook, "We are shocked and deeply saddened by this crime and violation of our community. The protection, safety, and privacy of every person who enters our church is our priority. We are fully cooperating with the sheriff's office as this is an ongoing investigation."

Rauch said, "It's devastating. We care so deeply about our community. We so deeply want our community to know about the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and your world gets flipped upside down."

The 2|42 Community Church shared a video on YouTube detailing the disturbing allegations.

Ryan said in the video while fighting back tears, "At this time, the sheriff's office doesn't have any indication that cameras were placed elsewhere in the facility. Church leadership thoroughly searched all of our facilities yesterday, again today, and tomorrow. Out of an abundance of caution, we will engage the services of a third-party professional service to help us continue to do those sweeps."

Ryan noted that church officials at present don't know "the full scope of this crime."

“Our commitment to you is to be fully transparent and care for all the victims of this crime,” Ryan added.

Sheriff Mike Murphy stated, “All known victims have been identified and notified at this time.”

Johnson reportedly worked with the church for five years; he's scheduled to appear in court next Tuesday.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Disney VP caught on hidden camera EXPOSING woke DEI by James O’Keefe



James O’Keefe has done it again.

The investigative journalist confirmed suspicions that Disney has “gone woke” in his latest undercover expose with his organization, the O’Keefe Media Group.

The group captured a Disney executive on camera admitting that Disney prioritizes skin color rather than merit when it comes to hiring employees.

The executive, senior vice president and team lead over at 20th Television Michael Giordano told one of OMG’s investigators that there have certainly “been times where, you know, there’s no way we’re hiring a white male for this.”

“Just kind of unspoken?” the undercover journalist says to Giordano.

“There are times when it’s spoken,” Giordano confirms, before explaining the way it’s been phrased is, “There’s no way we’re hiring a white male for this role.”

Giordano had also told the undercover journalist that a promotion was likely not in the cards for him because he is seen as a white male.

“As far as Disney is concerned I’m a white male. That’s not who they’re looking to promote at the moment,” he said.

Once the report was released, Giordano was let go from his position.

Lauren Chen is not shocked that Disney has been caught.

“For a long time, people like me have looked at Disney and wondered, okay, if they care about diversity and woke so much, why don’t they still have diverse characters but at least have a well-written, you know, well-made show?” Chen says.

“I think it’s pretty clear here that the reason why they don’t have that at least quality with the wokeness is because they’re also prioritizing skin color when it comes to the people who are making their shows, writing their films, managing their company,” she adds.

While there are obviously talented writers of color, population-wise there are not enough to hire only those of color.

“They’re having to boost up people who probably aren’t as good at their jobs as they should be, simply because they like the way they look,” Chen comments.


Want more from Lauren Chen?

To enjoy more of Lauren’s pro-liberty, pro-logic, and pro-market commentary on social and political issues, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Son of Buc-ee's co-founder accused of using spy cameras to record people using toilets, showering, and having sex



The son of a Buc-ee's co-founder – who is also a law student at Southern Methodist University – is accused of using spy cameras to record people using toilets, showering, and having sex.

Mitchell Wasek, 28, was arrested on Tuesday in Travis County, Texas. He was charged with 28 felony counts of invasive visual recording. Wasek was released from jail after posting $280,000 bail, and barred from making any contact with the complainants.

In May, guests were staying at a multimillion-dollar house on the banks of Lake Travis, northwest of Austin, Texas. WRIC-TV reported that the owner of the house is Donald E. Wasek, a co-founder of Buc-ee's and the father of Mitchell Wasek, according to county property records.

One of the houseguests – who works in cybersecurity for the Department of Defense – noticed a charging port with a hidden camera that was plugged into the wall of one of the bathrooms, according to court documents. After the discovery, the group of friends reportedly left the lake house with the spy camera and its micro-card.

The micro-card had dozens of videos of guests secretly recorded at the lake house and at Mitchell Wasek's apartment in Dallas, the affidavit states.

KXAN-TV reported, "After a warrant was obtained to review the camera's contents, investigators found 68 videos of at least 13 different individuals. The videos showed them 'using toilets, showering, changing clothes, and/or having sex,' according to KXAN's review of the affidavit."

"They were unaware that the recordings existed in the bedroom and bathroom, and indicated they did not consent to being recorded or photographed," a Travis County sheriff’s deputy wrote in the affidavit.

No other members of the Wasek family were at the lake house besides Mitchell Wasek, the accusers told authorities.

The affidavit states that the memory card stored videos dating back to 2021. The spy cameras were allegedly hidden inside a downtown Austin condo and a vacation home in Telluride, Colorado, both owned by Mitchell Wasek’s parents, according to property records.

There are records showing that Mitchell Wasek purchased a half-dozen spy cameras from Amazon, according to the affidavit.

Wasek faces up to two years in state jail per count if convicted.

Wasek is currently a student at SMU’s Dedman School of Law, a spokesperson for the school confirmed to the Dallas Morning News.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Mitchell Wasek, son of Buc-ee's co-founder accused of secretly recording house guests www.youtube.com

Parents accuse American Airlines flight attendant of hiding camera in bathroom to record teen daughter, share 'disturbing' photo



Parents have accused an American Airlines flight attendant of planting a hidden camera inside the plane's bathroom to record their teen daughter. The family has shared a photo of the hidden camera as purported evidence of the alleged crime.

The family was on American Airlines flight #1441 on Sept. 2, traveling from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Boston, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts State Police troopers and members of the FBI responded to a "potential criminal act" aboard a flight, according to WFXT. The Massachusetts State Police said the alleged criminal act happened mid-flight, therefore falling under the authority of federal law enforcement. An FBI spokesperson confirmed that federal agents investigated the situation but did not release any further details.

An American Airlines spokesperson previously said, "We take this matter very seriously and are fully cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation, as safety and security are our highest priorities."

WSOC-TV reported that the incident involved a "juvenile, a flight attendant, and a cell phone."

The unnamed father of the minor told Fox News this week that his daughter went to the coach bathroom on the plane, but a male flight attendant approached her and allegedly said, "You can use the bathroom up in first class, it’ll be quicker."

The flight attendant reportedly stopped the 14-year-old girl before she went into the bathroom and said, "Let me go in, I need to get in there and wash my hands. We're about to collect garbage."

The teen allegedly said that the man was in the bathroom for about a minute before exiting. He purportedly told the teenager that the bathroom seat was broken.

The juvenile purportedly entered the bathroom and saw that there was a handwritten sign that read: "SEAT BROKEN."

The minor allegedly used the bathroom. However, when she got up, she reportedly noticed an iPhone attached to the toilet seat that was mostly hidden behind the sign.

The teenager then took a photo of the hidden cell phone, which shows the light on the camera.

— (@)

The male flight attendant immediately went inside the lavatory after the teen exited, according to the girl.

The teenager reportedly told her mother about the hidden camera phone in the bathroom.

The mother went to the first-class bathroom and allegedly warned a female passenger, "Don't go in there. My daughter's just been in there, there's a camera in there."

The mother said she went inside the bathroom, but the cell phone was gone.

The father allegedly confronted the male flight attendant about the incident, and his face "went white" when he showed him the photo of the hidden cell phone.

The concerned parents reportedly informed other flight attendants, who then told the captain.

Authorities were at Boston Logan International Airport when the plane landed.

The family told Fox News that it was "very surprising" that they had "never heard a word" from American Airlines.

The father told the outlet, "One of the things you shouldn't have to worry about is that a member of the flight crew, who you're legally obligated to follow their instructions and who are trusted with your safety, that they're going to target one of your kids and obtain child pornography on a plane. I mean, it's just it blows your mind."

"I think as a teenage girl, she's embarrassed. I think it's, I mean, it's hard to imagine a more intimate violation of privacy than this," he continued. "And I mean, I think it's obvious what that setup was meant to film. And I think, it's just, it's disgusting."

No arrests have been made in relation to the incident.

American Airlines did not respond to a request for comment from the New York Post.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

NYT reporter criticizes colleagues 'traumatized' by Jan. 6 riot in hidden camera sting



New York Times reporter Matthew Rosenberg called media coverage of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol "overblown" and criticized his colleagues' response to the events of that day in a hidden-camera sting video released by Project Veritas.

Rosenberg, a national security correspondent for the Times, has extensively reported on the riot and accused former President Donald Trump and his supporters in conservative media of using "a furious array of rumor, innuendo, partial facts and outright lies" to create "alternative narratives" making excuses for the violent mob that trespassed at the Capitol Building. But in excerpts from a recorded conversation with one of Project Veritas' "undercover journalists," Rosenberg admitted that the left has spun a narrative too, in the opposite direction.

“It’s not a big deal as they are making it, because they were making too big a deal. They were making this an organized thing that it wasn’t,” Rosenberg said in excerpts of the video published Tuesday.

He also said that the left's overreaction to Jan. 6 gave people on the right an opportunity to downplay what happened.

"The Left's reaction to it in some places was so over the top that it gave the opening the Right needed to start introducing the idea of, 'Whoa, these people are out of control. Like it's not as big a deal as they're making it.' Cause [the Left] were making too big a deal. They were making [Jan. 6] some organized thing that it wasn't. And that gave the opening for the lunatics in the Right to be like, 'Oh, well, nothing happened here. It was just a peaceful bunch of tourists,' you know, and it's like, but nobody wants [to] hear that," he said.

He also made comments acknowledging that there were "a ton of FBI informants amongst the people who attacked the Capitol."

NYT Reporter: Jan 6 Media ‘Overreaction,’ FBI Involved; Traumatized Colleagues are "Fu*king Bit*hes" www.youtube.com

Project Veritas did not disclose when the video was recorded, but founder and CEO James O’Keefe said it was filmed around the same time Rosenberg was working on an article titled, "The Next Big Lies: Jan 6 was No Big Deal, or A Left-Wing Plot." The article was one of several features published by the Times in January for the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 riots.

In other clips from the video, Rosenberg harshly criticized some of his colleagues for acting like "f***ing b****es" by claiming to have been traumatized by the violence.

"I know I'm supposed to be traumatized, but like, all these colleagues who were in the building, and they're young and are like, 'Oh my God, it was so scary,'" Rosenberg said. "I'm like, 'F*** off.'" He also said that "[the Times is] not the kind place I can tell somebody to man up, but I kind of want to be like, 'Dude, come on, like, you were not in any danger.'"

Rosenberg was one of several journalists the Times dispatched to cover former President Donald Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally. While he never entered the Capitol building, Rosenberg interviewed several protesters that day, including Bigo Barnett, the rioter who broke into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office and stole a letter from her desk.

That\u2019s Richard \u201cBigo\u201d Barnett, 60, from Gravette, Ak., showing off the personalized envelope he took from Speaker Pelosi\u2019s office. He insisted he didn\u2019t steal it \u2014 \u201cI left a quarter on her desk.\u201dpic.twitter.com/aST7MCoRwP
— Matthew Rosenberg (@Matthew Rosenberg) 1609975081

In public reflections on his experience for another one of the Times features on the anniversary of the riot, he made very different statements, saying he too was "scared" by how "the most ordinary people were often the most violent." He even compared what he witnessed to overseas conflicts in military hot zones like Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I spent 15 years overseas in some fairly violent places – Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia. At moments, Jan. 6 was intense," he said in a Jan. 6, 2022, discussion with his colleagues. "Not the entire day, and certainly not everyone who was there. But there were folks in the crowd who were ready to fight."

According to Project Veritas, Rosenberg responded to the video, saying, "Will I stand by those comments? Absolutely."

In the video, O'Keefe promised to release additional videos featuring Rosenberg in the future discussing the "turmoil and inner workings of the New York Times."

Project Veritas and the New York Times are in the middle of a legal battle over whether the paper can publish certain memos and documents obtained from the nonprofit group. In a Feb. 10 court ruling, a judge said the Times could publish some documents but not other ones. Project Veritas is also suing the Times for defamation. The paper has accused Project Veritas of engaging in "deceptive practices, including the use of fake identities and hidden cameras to embarrass liberals, the news media, and others."