Two video creators charged over Minneapolis election stunt

James O'Keefe and Cam Higby face criminal charges in Minnesota following an undercover video project that took place in August. The two men, a self-styled guerrilla journalist and a social media influencer, posted footage of themselves at multiple Minneapolis voting precincts. In the clip, they wore burqas, spoke with fake accents, and claimed to be residents vouching for other voters.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced the charges on Wednesday. Each man faces one count of unlawful voting and one count of identity theft. Prosecutors stated that the pair deceived election judges by using the identities of real Minnesota voters without the voters' knowledge or permission. This conduct allegedly violated state election laws.

The video, titled 'I Wore Burqa To EXPOSE Election FRAUD In Minneapolis,' remains pinned on Higby's X account. O'Keefe and Higby described the stunt as an effort to expose gaps in local rules regarding identity verification. No ballots were cast during the interaction.

Moriarty called the protection of elections a top priority. 'Individuals engaging in unlawful conduct related to our elections will be held accountable,' she said. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Neither man is currently in custody, according to the charging documents.

Higby responded to the charges on social media, claiming no laws were broken. 'They want me in PRISON for exposing election vulnerabilities in their state,' Higby wrote. O'Keefe did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Steve Simon, the state's top election official, said any attempt to disrupt or deceive election workers would not be tolerated.