By Basant El-Faramawy
Two right-wing influencers, James O'Keefe and Cam Higby, have been charged with felonies in Minneapolis for attempting to vote unlawfully during Minnesota's August primary by disguising themselves in what they called "Muslim garb" and impersonating registered voters.
Charges Announced by Hennepin County Attorney
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced the charges Wednesday, stating both men face counts of unlawful voting and identity theft. They entered multiple polling places, identified themselves using names of registered voters in those precincts, and attempted to use the state's vouching system without signing required affidavits.
Details of the Vouching Scheme
Minnesota's vouching process allows a registered voter to vouch for up to eight others' eligibility, but requires the voucher to sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury. The system is rarely used, accounting for less than 0.6% of votes in the 2024 general election. O'Keefe and Higby did not sign affidavits or obtain ballots.
Reactions and Legal Context
Moriarty said election judges noted the men's "strange behavior" and participated in the investigation. The charges were based on their actions, not their political views. "It is not against the law to be offensive," Moriarty said. "We can't let people's political bent affect our decisions."
O'Keefe, founder of the discredited Project Veritas, and Higby framed their actions as investigative journalism. After the charges, Higby called them "lawfare" and claimed no laws were broken, linking to a fundraising site. He alleged the stunt exposed election vulnerabilities.
Some names used by the men belonged to deceased voters; others were alive. One voter whose name was used had actually voted in the primary and was shocked. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon condemned attempts to disrupt polling places, calling them "islands of calm."
