Two right-wing social media influencers who misrepresented themselves at Minnesota polling places in August have been charged with unlawful voting and identity theft, local authorities announced Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Provocateurs James O’Keefe, 42,and Cameron Higby, 26, went to polling places in the state during the Aug. 11 primary elections and identified themselves using the names of registered voters in the precincts. The pair filmed themselves doing so in an apparent attempt to cast doubt on the state’s voter registration vouching system, whereby a registered voter can vouch for the identity of someone else in the precinct in order for that person to register to vote.
"A group of people were attempting to cast doubt on the state's vouching system
by posting videos of themselves on social media," Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty told reporters. "Elections are the bedrock of democracy and their protection is one of our highest priorities. Individuals engaging in unlawful conduct related to our elections will be held accountable."
Videos the pair made of the stunt and posted to X racked up over 10 million views. In one clip, O’Keefe wearing traditional Arab attire and using an accent asks about vouching to register "other Muslims." Higby, who wore a full-facial covering and claimed to be a "Muslim woman," repeated the stunt at other sites in Minneapolis.
O’Keefe and Higby did not sign the oaths required to go through with the vouching registration system. However, according to Moriarty, "Minnesota law states clearly that no individual shall intentionally misrepresent their identity in applying for a ballot."
The Hennepin County top prosecutor said use of the vouching system is exceedingly rare – 0.6% of votes in the 2024 general election – and is typically the purview of retirees who are newly moved into assisted living situations.
O’Keefe and Higby have defended their hidden camera videos as "guerilla" journalism. O’Keefe could not be immediately reached for comment. Higby said the charges validated their efforts to make the videos.
"This video caused Minnesota to charge me with a felony," Higby said in sharing one of their videos on social media. "Watch it, they’re afraid of it."
Moriarty said arguments that the two were doing "investigative journalism" would not hold up in court.
"You have to identify yourself as a journalist in the polling place, which they did not do," she said.
It’s unclear where the pair got access to the information of registered voters, some of whom were dead, said Moriarty.
O’Keefe and Higby pair face felony counts of unlawful voting and identity theft. Moriarty said the charges were "appropriate" given that the pair "entered polling places without legitimate purposes and intentionally misrepresenting their identity to election judges in applying for a ballot."
Hennepin County’s move to charge the pair comes less than a week ahead of the midterm elections where Republican-aligned activists and officials have tried to raise the specter of election fraud and unlawful voting.
Moriarty said the county’s safeguards are working well and that local officials are prepared to handle any issues that might arise.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gonzo journalism or trolling? Influencers charged after Minnesota voting stunt
