Minnesota Prosecutor Charges James O'Keefe and Cam Higby With Felony Unlawful Voting and Identity Theft Over Primary-Day Vouching Stunt
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced in Minneapolis on October 28 that conservative activist James O'Keefe, 42, of West Palm Beach, Florida, and influencer Cam Higby, 26, of Covington, Washington, have each been charged with felony unlawful voting and identity theft. Prosecutors say that on August 11, primary election day, the two men entered several Minneapolis polling places, gave election judges the names of registered voters in those precincts, and began the state's same-day registration 'vouching' process while filming with hidden cameras. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
According to the criminal complaints and Moriarty's news conference, the men wore what O'Keefe described as traditional Muslim attire and used fake accents, identifying themselves with the names of real registered voters — some of them deceased — without those voters' knowledge or permission. They later posted the videos to social media, where they drew more than 10 million views, saying their purpose was to expose vulnerabilities in the vouching system.
Moriarty said neither man signed the oath required under the vouching process, obtained a ballot, or cast a vote, but that this did not matter under state law: 'Minnesota law states clearly that no individual shall intentionally misrepresent their identity in applying for a ballot.' 'Elections are the bedrock of democracy and their protection is one of our highest priorities,' she said. 'Individuals engaging in unlawful conduct related to our elections will be held accountable.'
Under Minnesota's vouching system, a registered voter in a precinct may vouch for the residency of up to eight other people so they can register and vote the same day, and staff of residential facilities may vouch for their residents. According to the Secretary of State's office, the process is rarely used — fewer than 0.6% of votes in the 2024 general election — typically by retirees who have moved into assisted living and need to update their registration. Poll workers were suspicious of the men's behavior and reported it, and the case was referred by Secretary of State Steve Simon's office.
O'Keefe, who founded Project Veritas and was later ousted from it, is known for undercover sting-style videos; Higby is a collaborator. Neither man has yet entered a plea, court records do not name an attorney for either, and neither O'Keefe's media organization nor Higby responded to requests for comment. The charges were announced less than a week before the November 3 midterm elections.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Minneapolis 的亨内平县政府中心（Hennepin County Government Center）正门，本案起诉方亨内平县检察官办公室所在建筑。照片：Tony Webster 摄，CC BY-SA 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The entrance of the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, home to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, which brought the charges. Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
