MINNEAPOLIS — Two prominent right-wing figures, James O’Keefe and social media influencer Cam Higby, are facing criminal charges in Minnesota following an undercover stunt designed to expose what they claimed were vulnerabilities in the state’s election security protocols.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced on Wednesday that both men have been charged with unlawful voting and identity theft. The charges stem from an August incident in which O’Keefe and Higby visited multiple voting precincts in Minneapolis while wearing burqas and utilizing fake accents to deceive election officials.
The pair documented the encounters in a video titled “I Wore Burqa To EXPOSE Election FRAUD In Minneapolis,” which remains posted on Higby’s account on X, formerly Twitter. In the video, the men purportedly test the “vouching” system, a mechanism in Minnesota election law that allows registered voters to verify the identity of other voters who may lack standard documentation.
While the duo claimed their objective was to highlight systemic security gaps, prosecutors emphasized that their methods crossed a clear legal line. According to charging documents, O’Keefe and Higby deceived election judges by assuming the identities of real Minnesota residents without the knowledge or permission of those individuals.
“Elections are the bedrock of democracy and their protection is one of our highest priorities,” Moriarty said in a statement released Wednesday. “Individuals engaging in unlawful conduct related to our elections will be held accountable.”
Although officials confirmed that no ballots were cast during the stunt, the legal consequences for the men are significant. Each count of identity theft and unlawful voting carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Neither man is currently in custody, according to local authorities.
The stunt has drawn sharp condemnation from state election officials. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon addressed the incident in a stern statement, warning that “any attempt to disrupt or deceive our election workers will not be tolerated.”
Higby responded to the charges in a defiant statement posted to his X account, maintaining his innocence and framing the prosecution as politically motivated. “No laws were broken,” Higby wrote. “They want me in PRISON for exposing election vulnerabilities in their state.”
O’Keefe, a self-described “guerilla journalist” who has built a career on high-profile undercover operations aimed at institutions he views as corrupt, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Legal experts note that this case highlights the growing tension between activists seeking to challenge election integrity and state officials tasked with maintaining orderly voting processes. As the legal proceedings move forward, the case will likely serve as a high-profile test of how Minnesota courts distinguish between journalistic inquiry and criminal interference in the democratic process.
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