Prosecutors in Minnesota charged two conservative activists, James O’Keefe and Cam Higby, on Wednesday with felony identity theft and unlawful voting. Prosecutors said they posted hidden-camera videos showing themselves applying for ballots under other people’s names in the August primary.
The complaints allege that O’Keefe, 42, and Higby, 26, wore disguises and used hidden cameras while giving poll workers the names and addresses of four registered voters at Minneapolis polling places. The voters had not authorized them to use their identities, prosecutors said.
The complaints do not allege that either man cast ballots. Each faces one count of identity theft and one count of unlawful voting. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, or both.
The pair later posted videos of the visits, dressed in what appeared to be traditional Arab garb: Higby in a black face veil and O’Keefe in a long white robe and skullcap.
In the videos, they criticized Minnesota’s voter-vouching law. Under that law, someone can register to vote at the pollsif a registered voter in that precinct can vouch for their address.
In a post on X, Higby called the charges “lawfare” and said they were intended to discourage independent journalists from challenging election systems.
In a later statement, Higby said he was trying to “expose vulnerabilities” in how Minnesota runs elections. “I never voted, I never signed an affidavit and I never violated a law,” he said in a statement. “For showing how Minnesota abuses votes, they seek to take mine away from me permanently.”
O’Keefe did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Both men are scheduled to make their first court appearances Nov. 16 at 2 p.m., according to court records.
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