Hennepin County Charges O'Keefe and Higby With Felonies in Minnesota Voting Stunt
Prosecutors allege the activists used false names and Islamic attire to test a voter vouching law, a pair of felony counts that could lead to imprisonment.
By Hiroshi Sato ·
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office filed felony charges against James Edward O'Keefe and Cam Higby on Wednesday. The two men face counts of unlawful voting and identity theft related to an undercover video recorded at a Minnesota polling site.
Prosecutors stated that the pair intentionally misrepresented their identities to election judges. They alleged that O'Keefe and Higby provided the names of registered voters in the precinct without the voters' knowledge or permission. The office confirmed that neither man signed the required oath to confirm their address.
The incident occurred in August. O'Keefe and Higby dressed in Islamic attire and used fake accents while interacting with poll workers. They aimed to test a state law that allows registered voters to vouch for the identity and address of up to eight other people. The law is designed to assist recent movers, not to allow impersonation of existing registered voters.
Higby, a 26-year-old political commentator, disputed the charges in a statement to the BBC. He said he sought to expose vulnerabilities in the Minnesota voting system. "This investigation was conducted to expose vulnerabilities in the Minnesota voting system, which affects all Americans," he said. He added that he never voted, signed an affidavit, or violated a law.
"For showing how Minnesota abuses votes, they seek to take mine away from me permanently," Higby said. He claimed the state is trying to strip his right to vote based on the video he shared. The footage showed the two men attempting to cast ballots under the names of other registered voters.
Steve Simon, Minnesota's secretary of state, issued a statement on Wednesday. He said any attempt to disrupt or deceive election workers would not be tolerated. "Polling places are the heart of our democracy and should be places of safety and peace," Simon said. Unlawful voting and identity theft are both classified as felonies in the state.
O'Keefe, 42, is the founder of Project Veritas and O'Keefe Media Group. The organizations are known for secretly recorded encounters aimed at exposing corruption. It was not immediately clear when the two men are scheduled to appear in court. The BBC contacted O'Keefe for comment on the new charges.
Source: Casualty
