Minnesota Prosecutors File Charges Against O'Keefe and Higby

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced on Wednesday that James O'Keefe and Cam Higby face criminal charges for an undercover operation at Minneapolis voting precincts. The two men are each accused of unlawful voting and identity theft.

Prosecutors stated that the pair used the identities of real Minnesota residents without their knowledge or permission. This conduct allegedly violated state election laws. Each count carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The charges stem from a video posted in August titled 'I Wore Burqa To EXPOSE Election FRAUD In Minneapolis.' The clip shows O'Keefe and Higby approaching election judges in burqas and speaking with fake accents. They claimed to be testing rules that allow voters to vouch for the identity of others. No actual ballots were cast during the stunt.

Moriarty described the protection of elections as a top priority for her office. She said in a statement that individuals engaging in unlawful conduct related to voting will be held accountable.

O'Keefe, who identifies as a guerrilla journalist, called the new charges weaponized lawfare. He defended the video as protected journalism and vowed to fight the case. He stated that the situation is about the right of citizens to question their government.

Higby, a social media influencer, responded on X by arguing that no laws were broken. He said he wants to be in prison for exposing vulnerabilities in the state's election system. Neither man is currently in custody according to the charging documents.

Steve Simon, the state's chief election official, said that attempts to disrupt or deceive election workers will not be tolerated. This is not the first legal issue for O'Keefe. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in Louisiana for entering federal property under false pretenses.