Conservative influencers charged over identity theft in Minnesota primary

The pair went undercover in "traditional Muslim attire" to test the limits of Minnesota's voter "vouching" system, which is rarely used.MINNEAPOLIS (CN) — The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office charged two conservative influencers with unlawful voting and identity theft on Wednesday over misrepresenting themselves during the Minnesota primary election.Prosecutors say conservative activist James O’Keefe and conservative journalist Cam Higby filmed themselves and posted videos to social media in an attempt to sow doubt over security in the state’s voting systems.Both men visited multiple Hennepin County precincts during the primary election on Aug. 11, according to the office, where they purposely misidentified themselves to election judges using names of several registered voters — some deceased — without their knowledge or permission.“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,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a news release.The pair disguised and recorded themselves using hidden cameras at polling places — later releasing the footage on social media. O’Keefe and others dressed in “traditional Muslim attire,” and entered polling places to expose the “sheer lunacy of Minnesota’s ‘vouching’ system.”Under Minnesota law, registered voters can vouch for up to eight unregistered voters on Election Day if they live in the same precinct, obtain permission and sign an oath confirming the unregistered voter’s address.Soon after the footage went live, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon released a statement condemning the pair’s actions, noting poll workers properly and immediately reported their visits to local election officials.“Their apparent goal was to cast doubt on one or more Minnesota election laws that have been in force for over 50 years,” Simon said in August. “Instead, they revealed their ignorance of how those laws actually work — while putting themselves in legal jeopardy.”Simon’s office noted less than 0.6% of votes cast in the 2024 general election used the vouching process; he said it is most common in senior living facilities by residents who have not updated their driver’s licenses with their current address.“Polling places are the heart of our democracy and should be places of safety and peace,” Simon said in Wednesday’s release. “Any attempt to disrupt or deceive our election workers will not be tolerated.”While the two men did not sign the voter oath that certifies they meet all eligibility requirements — which would have been felony perjury — Moriarty said they still broke the law by intentionally misrepresenting their identity when applying for a ballot or attempting to vote.The conservative influencers’ actions reflect a broader narrative championed by President Donald Trump and his allies, who have long claimed voting in areas led by Democrats is vulnerable to widespread fraud.Trump has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, the 2020 presidential election was “stolen” by Joe Biden.The Trump administration has since targeted Democratic-leaning states with efforts to obtain unredacted voter rolls and restrict same-day and mail-in voting.O’Keefe did not respond to an initial request for comment. Higby took to social media soon after the charges were announced to defend the actions, saying the state wants to imprison him for “exposing election vulnerabilities.”“I showed how Minnesota allows cheating in elections,” Higby said in a post on X. “Now they want to TAKE MY RIGHT TO VOTE AWAY. This is lawfare. They want to scare all independent journalists who may challenge them.”An initial court appearance for O’Keefe and Higby has been set for Nov. 16.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads