By Fatma Younis
Two right-wing provocateurs, James O'Keefe and Cam Higby, face election-related charges in Minnesota after posting undercover videos intended to expose alleged deficiencies in election security.
Charges Filed
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Wednesday that each man is charged with one count of unlawful voting and identity theft. Each count carries up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Neither man is in custody, according to charging documents.
Undercover Video
The charges stem from a video posted in August showing O'Keefe and Higby approaching election judges at multiple Minneapolis precincts wearing burqas and using fake accents. Prosecutors allege they used the identities of real Minnesota voters without those voters' knowledge or permission. No ballots were cast during the stunt.
Prior Legal History and Responses
O'Keefe, a self-described "guerilla journalist," previously pleaded guilty in 2010 to a misdemeanor in Louisiana for entering a federal property under false pretenses. Higby, a social media influencer, claimed on X that no laws were broken. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said any attempt to disrupt or deceive election workers will not be tolerated.
