Minnesota prosecutor files felony charges against James O’Keefe and Cam Higby after alleged voting stunt
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Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced felony charges against conservative activist James O’Keefe and influencer Cam Higby for allegedly misrepresenting themselves at polling places during the August primary. The case underscores how far-right media antics can cross the line from political theater into crimes involving voter information and election security.
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 used the state's "vouching" process, which allows a registered voter to vouch for up to eight other voters in the same precinct. Moriarty said the investigation began after a tip from the office of Secretary of State Steve Simon, highlighting the importance of election officials catching suspected abuse before it can spread.
Simon said the duo's videos, posted on social media, were designed to attack long-standing election rules, but instead revealed a basic misunderstanding of those laws and exposed the participants to criminal liability.
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 meant 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 both the legal boundaries of the vouching practice and the serious consequences of weaponizing voter information for provocative online content.