Prosecutors Charge James O'Keefe and Cam Higby with Felonies Over Minnesota Polling Stunt

Hennepin County prosecutors have filed felony charges against James Edward O'Keefe and Cam Higby for unlawful voting and identity theft. The charges stem from an August incident at a Minneapolis polling site where the two men tested the limits of the state's voter identification rules.

The prosecution alleges that O'Keefe, 42, and Higby, 26, misrepresented their identities to election judges. They gave the names of registered voters in the precinct without the knowledge or permission of those individuals. The county attorney's office stated that both men intentionally provided false information when applying for ballots. Although neither man signed the required oath to confirm their address, prosecutors argue the actions satisfy the elements of the felony charges.

The duo recorded the interaction while wearing Islamic attire and using fake accents. They shared the video to demonstrate what they viewed as weaknesses in the state's voting process. Higby, a political commentator, told the BBC that the investigation aimed to expose vulnerabilities in Minnesota's system. He argued that the state is now attempting to remove his right to vote for revealing how the system works.

"I never voted, I never signed an affidavit, and I never violated a law," Higby said. "For showing how Minnesota abuses votes, they seek to take mine away from me permanently."

The incident involved a Minnesota law that allows a registered voter to vouch for the identity and address of up to eight other people. The statute is designed to help recent state residents cast ballots. Higby captioned the original video by stating that he dressed as a Muslim woman and that poll workers were prepared to allow him and others to vote without verifying their identities. He claimed the law was being used to allow foreigners to vote fraudulently.

Steve Simon, the Minnesota Secretary of State, addressed the charges in a statement on Wednesday. He said any attempt to disrupt or deceive election workers would not be tolerated. Simon described polling places as the heart of democracy and places that should offer safety and peace.

O'Keefe is the founder of Project Veritas, an organization known for secretly recorded investigations. After leaving that group, he started O'Keefe Media Group. It is not yet clear when the two men are scheduled to appear in court. The BBC has reached out to O'Keefe for comment.