Minnesota Prosecutor Charges James O'Keefe and Cam Higby With Felony Unlawful Voting and Identity Theft Over Their Polling Place Video
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty says the pair misrepresented their identities when they asked for ballots in August. Higby calls it lawfare; neither complaint alleges a vote was cast.
A Minnesota prosecutor has charged two conservative media figures over a video that spotlighted the state's voter-vouching law, the Daily Caller reports.
The charges. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Wednesday that James O'Keefe and Cam Higby face felony unlawful voting and identity theft charges. Each is punishable by up to five years in prison.
The video. In August, O'Keefe posted footage of the two entering Minneapolis polling places on primary day in Islamic dress with hidden cameras. They spoke to poll workers in fake accents and said their aim was to draw attention to the vouching law. That law lets a registered voter vouch for the residency of up to eight others who recently moved.
The case. Moriarty said the charges have nothing to do with the men's politics or whether their disguises were offensive. Her press release says O'Keefe "intentionally misrepresented their identities in applying for ballots." The Caller, which reviewed the complaints, says neither complaint alleges the men actually voted.
The response. Higby posted on X: "I showed how Minnesota allows cheating in elections. Now they want to TAKE MY RIGHT TO VOTE AWAY. This is lawfare." He linked a fundraising page. The Caller says it asked both men for comment and had no reply by publication.
Background. The Caller notes Moriarty, a Democrat elected in 2022, is not running again and has drawn criticism, including from fellow Democrats, over juvenile cases. It also notes the Trump administration is pressing Minnesota and other states to hand over voter rolls.
Note for readers: these are charges, not convictions. We have only the Daily Caller's account of the complaints and have not read them ourselves.