Conservative Activists O’Keefe and Higby Face Felony Charges Over Minnesota Election Stunt
Conservative activists James O’Keefe and Cam Higby face felony charges for identity theft and unlawful voting after a staged election stunt in Minnesota.
POLICY WIRE — Minneapolis, USA — Conservative activists James O’Keefe and Cam Higby were hit with felony charges on Wednesday, accused of identity theft and unlawful voting during Minnesota’s August 11 primary election. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty confirmed the charges, stating the pair allegedly assumed the identities of registered voters to test the state’s election security protocols.
The two men, O’Keefe, 42, and Higby, 26, reportedly wore costumes and used fake accents while attempting to navigate the state’s vouching process, which allows unregistered voters to cast ballots if a registered voter confirms their identity. Poll workers grew suspicious of the duo’s behavior and alerted authorities, effectively halting the attempt before the men could sign the required legal oaths.
Moriarty praised the election staff for their vigilance, noting that the incident proved the system is capable of identifying and responding to potential misconduct. While the O’Keefe Media Group claimed the stunt was intended to expose vulnerabilities in the vouching system, legal experts and officials emphasized that impersonating a voter remains a serious criminal offense.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
