Key facts
- James O'Keefe and Cam Higby face felony charges for unlawful voting and identity theft.
- The alleged actions occurred during Minnesota's August primary election.
- The influencers attempted to use the "vouching" system to cast votes without proper identification.
- Election judges noted their "strange behavior" and alerted authorities.
- The Minnesota secretary of state stated that less than 0.6% of votes used the vouching process in the 2024 general election.
Minneapolis, MN - Rightwing influencers James O’Keefe and Cam Higby have been charged with felonies in Minneapolis for allegedly attempting to vote unlawfully in Minnesota's August primary election. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced on Wednesday that both men face charges of unlawful voting and identity theft. The pair reportedly entered multiple polling places, attempting to use the state's "vouching" system by providing the names of registered voters without signing the required affidavits. Election judges observed their behavior and alerted investigators. O'Keefe, founder of Project Veritas, and Higby have defended their actions on social media, calling the charges "lawfare" and claiming no laws were broken. Moriarty stated that political motivations did not influence the charging decision, emphasizing that the actions violated election laws regardless of intent. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon affirmed the state's commitment to election integrity and thanked law enforcement for holding the individuals accountable.