MINNEAPOLIS, October 28, 2026 — Hennepin County prosecutors filed felony charges against conservative influencers James O’Keefe and Cam Higby for unlawful voting and identity theft during the August primary election.
The Undercover Operation
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Wednesday that the pair entered polling places in Minneapolis using names of registered voters without their permission. According to sources, they filmed themselves misrepresenting their identities to election judges while wearing disguises the influencers described as “Muslim garb,” which included a full-face veil.
Their actions unfolded during the state primary on August 11, where O’Keefe and Higby attempted to test the limits of Minnesota’s vouching system. In videos posted online, they asked workers if they could vote without IDs or vouch for unregistered people. Moriarty stated that the influencers did not intend to cast ballots, noting that their goal was to document how election workers responded to their requests.
The Vouching System
Minnesota law allows a registered voter to vouch for up to eight other individuals on Election Day. This process requires an affidavit signed under penalty of perjury confirming the unregistered person’s address and identity. Under state law, no individual shall intentionally misrepresent their identity in applying for a ballot.
Prosecutors noted that while neither defendant signed the required oath, which would have constituted felony perjury, they still broke the law by giving someone else’s name to election judges. Moriarty emphasized that even without the videos becoming public, her office could charge the case because election judges in the precincts observed their strange behavior and participation in the investigation.
Dead Names and Legal Fallout
Police interviewed the registered voters whose names were used during the sting operation. Moriarty added that prosecutors do not know how the influencers obtained those names, though records indicate some belonged to residents who were deceased. One man whose name was used actually voted in the primary, and he was shocked when his identity was misused by the pair.
State court records show these specific election interference charges have only been used once since 2021. Secretary of State Steve Simon alerted the county attorney that the influencers’ goal appeared to be casting doubt on Minnesota’s election laws, which have been in force for over fifty years.
Reactions and Next Steps
O’Keefe and Higby will appear in court at a later date. Higby responded to reports by calling the charges “lawfare” and linking to a fundraising site to cover his legal expenses. He claimed on social media that no laws were broken.
The case highlights ongoing debates about election security, voter roll maintenance, and the use of undercover tactics by political commentators. As the trial date approaches, residents in Minneapolis continue to monitor how courts handle challenges to election administration practices.
The Secretary of State’s Warning
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon publicly addressed the influencers’ actions shortly after the videos surfaced in August. In a formal statement, Simon asserted that the apparent goal of O’Keefe and Higby was to cast doubt on Minnesota election laws that have been in force for over fifty years. Simon emphasized that while poll workers followed proper procedure to protect election integrity, the pair’s actions revealed a fundamental ignorance of how the state’s vouching system actually functions. He further stated that the misconduct was outrageous and totally unacceptable, declaring that the state has zero tolerance for lying, lawbreaking, and disruptions at polling places. Simon’s office had initially alerted Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty to the pair’s attempt to undermine the vouching system.
Sources
- Conservative influencers charged with voter fraud in Minnesota primary
- Conservative influencer James O’Keefe charged with unlawful voting and identity theft in Minnesota
- Conservative influencers charged with unlawful voting after ‘Muslim garb’ election stunt
Photo: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America (CC BY-SA 2.0)
