Minnesota prosecutor files felony charges against James O’Keefe and Cam Higby for unlawful voting and identity theft

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said a Minnesota prosecutor filed felony counts of unlawful voting and identity theft against James O’Keefe and Cam Higby after the two used the names of registered voters to obtain ballots at precincts during the August 11 primary.

"Both men stopped short of signing the oath we all sign before receiving our ballot," Moriarty said, adding that Minnesota law prohibits intentional misrepresentation of identity when applying for a ballot.

The pair allegedly employed the state's "vouching" process, which permits a registered voter to vouch for up to eight other voters in the same precinct. Moriarty noted that the investigation was prompted by a tip from the office of Secretary of State Steve Simon.

Simon said the duo's videos, posted on social media, aimed to cast doubt on long-standing election laws but instead showed a misunderstanding of those laws and placed the participants in legal jeopardy.

According to the prosecutor, O’Keefe and Higby entered polling places in disguise, recorded the encounters with hidden cameras, and later posted the footage online. O’Keefe described the disguise as “Muslim garb,” including a full-face veil, in a post on X, claiming the stunt was intended to expose perceived flaws in the vouching system.

Police have interviewed the voters whose names were used and confirmed that some of the names belonged to deceased individuals. Moriarty said the defendants will receive summonses to appear in court and are not being held in custody. Neither O’Keefe nor Higby responded to requests for comment.

The case comes amid ongoing national debates over election integrity, with President Donald Trump repeatedly asserting that Democrats have engaged in voter fraud. The charges highlight the legal limits of the vouching practice and the consequences of misusing voter information.