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Progressive activists and media were shocked some years ago when it was revealed that the co-founder of Common Ground, the radical post-Katrina organization in New Orleans, was an FBI informant, helping to convict two fellow activists participating in protests against the 2008 Republican National Convention. Brandon Darby, who had built up strong left credentials, had been working undercover with the FBI. Darby’s testimony helped imprison David Mc Kay and Bradley Crowder for the crime of making Molotov Cocktails for their RNC protests which they actually decided on their own to not deploy.

In the mean time, Darby, facing harsh ostracism from the left, turned to the Tea Party, was befriended by online rightwing blogger Andrew Breitbart, and now writes regularly for Breitbart News.

Now, a new documentary called simply Informant, by Jamie Meltzer, allows Brandon Darby to tell the story of his transformation from progressive activist to FBI informant. In light of the on-going use of informants by the FBI, the film is an intimate look at the type of personality that can succumb to snitching.

David McKay, who spent four years in prison as a result of Brandon Darby’s cooperation with the FBI, and was released last April, now joins me on the phone to discuss the film, Informant.

GUEST: David McKay, activist who was imprisoned for four years as a result of Brandon Darby’s testimony

Informant opens today at the Laemmle Noho 7, 5240 Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood, CA 91601. It will also be released on online streaming services and video-on-demand.

More about the film is online at www.informantdoc.com