O'Keefe, Higby Face New Charges

Hennepin County prosecutors filed election-related charges against James O'Keefe and Cam Higby on Wednesday, alleging that the two men engaged in unlawful voting and identity theft during an undercover operation in Minneapolis.

County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced that each man faces one count of unlawful voting and one count of identity theft. She stated that protecting the integrity of elections is a top priority and that individuals engaging in unlawful conduct will be held accountable. According to charging documents, neither man is currently in custody. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The charges stem from a video posted in August that shows O'Keefe and Higby approaching election judges at multiple voting precincts. In the footage, the two men are wearing burqas, speaking in fake accents, and misrepresenting their identities. They alleged they were exposing gaps in rules that allow residents to vouch for the identity of other voters. Prosecutors said the pair used the identities of real Minnesota voters without those voters' knowledge or permission. No ballots were cast during the stunt.

O'Keefe, who describes himself as a guerrilla journalist, called the legal action "weaponized lawfare" in a statement. He defended the video as constitutional journalism and vowed to fight the charges. He stated that the issue is fundamental to the right of citizens to question their government. Higby, a social media influencer, posted on X that no laws were broken and that he was being targeted for exposing election vulnerabilities. The video remains pinned on Higby's account with the title "I Wore Burqa To EXPOSE Election FRAUD In Minneapolis."

Steve Simon, the state's top election official, said in a statement that any attempt to disrupt or deceive election workers will not be tolerated. This is not the first time O'Keefe has faced legal trouble. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in Louisiana for entering federal property under false pretenses. At that time, he had posed as a telephone repairman to access a U.S. senator's office in New Orleans.