By Salma El-Sakka
Conservative influencer James O’Keefe and fellow influencer Cam Higby have been charged with felony counts of unlawful voting and identity theft in Minnesota, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Wednesday.
Charges stem from August primary
The charges relate to the state’s primary election on Aug. 11, when O’Keefe and Higby allegedly entered polling places and identified themselves using the names of registered voters without those voters’ knowledge or permission. They used Minnesota’s vouching system, which allows a registered voter to vouch for up to eight others, but stopped short of signing the required oath before receiving a ballot.
Hidden-camera operation
The pair disguised themselves, with one wearing a niqab, and recorded their interactions with hidden cameras. They posted videos on social media in August, stating their goal was to expose what they called the “lunacy” of Minnesota’s vouching system. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said their actions appeared aimed at casting doubt on long-standing election laws and put them in legal jeopardy.
Investigation and next steps
Police interviewed the voters whose names were used, including some deceased individuals, though the source of those names remains unknown. O’Keefe and Higby are not in custody; they will be issued a summons to appear in a Minnesota court. Neither has responded to requests for comment.
Previous controversies
O’Keefe, founder of Project Veritas, has a history of voter-fraud-related incidents. In 2024, he and the organization settled a lawsuit brought by a Pennsylvania postmaster over false claims of fraud during the 2020 presidential election. O’Keefe was removed as head of Project Veritas in 2023. Higby, a former journalist for conservative outlets, operates a YouTube channel with 285,000 subscribers.
