Conservative James O'Keefe charged with unlawful voting in election stunt
Conservative activist James O'Keefe and Cam Higby have been charged with felony unlawful voting and identity theft after filming an undercover stunt at a Minnesota polling site. Prosecutors allege the pair misrepresented their identities to expose vulnerabilities in the voting system, while the defendants claim they were highlighting legal loopholes.
Why it matters
The case touches on the sensitive intersection of election integrity, political activism, and the legal boundaries of undercover journalism.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Sareen Habeshian Getty Images James O'Keefe, founder of Project Veritas, was charged with unlawful voting and identity theft alongside fellow conservative activist Cam Higby Two conservative activists who filmed a stunt undercover at a Minnesota polling site have been charged with unlawful voting and identity theft, prosecutors said.
James Edward O'Keefe and Cam Higby are accused of trying to sow doubt in the state's voting systems after sharing a video that shows them in Islamic attire and using fake accents while interacting with poll workers.
Prosecutors allege the pair misrepresented their identities by giving election judges the names of registered voters in the precinct without those voters' knowledge or permission.
Higby told the BBC he sought to "expose vulnerabilities" in the voting system and alleged the state is now trying to take away his right to vote.
Also covering this story
3 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in