A scandal-plagued Democrat prosecutor in Minnesota has announced she is bringing charges against James O’Keefe, founder of O’Keefe Media Productions, and Cam Higby, for an election system flaw-exposing stunt there.
They posed as Muslims and confirmed that Minnesota allows a single person who is a registered voter to “vouch” for up to eight more people, who are not registered, so they are allowed to have their votes counted.
The announcement came from Mary Moriarty, now the Hennepin County attorney.
She said the charges are for “unlawful voting and identity theft” and claimed, “Polling places are the heart of our democracy. Any attempt to disrupt or deceive our election workers will not be tolerated.
James Edward O’Keefe, 42, and Cam Higby, 26, both face felony charges of unlawful voting and identity theft. Polling places are the heart of our democracy. Any attempt to disrupt or deceive our election workers will not be tolerated. Watch: https://t.co/LH1Q5m224J https://t.co/NMPizpONcN
— Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty (@HennepinAtty) October 28, 2026
It was because O’Keefe dressed in Muslim garb and went to a polling station during the primary, asking about other people, not registered, having their votes count.
He was told he was their ID.
O’Keefe asked about the vouching system: “I can vouch for them. They are not registered…” and he was told, “That’s okay. That’s fine. Yeah!”
“If you’re all in the same precinct and you are already registered, you can vouch for them as ID. Eight people,” he was told.
CAUGHT INSIDE MINNEAPOLIS POLLING BOOTHS: Minnesota Poll Workers Tell O’Keefe, Dressed in Muslim Garb, & @camhigby, in a Burka, That They Can Vouch for Eight Unregistered Voters Without ID, Allowing Them to Vote in Minnesota Primary Election Election worker says, “You’re the ID,” referring to the registered voter serving as identification for the people they are vouching for. Election worker confirms O’Keefe’s question about unregistered voters being vouched for: “I can vouch for them. They are not registered… That’s okay. That’s fine. Yeah!” Election worker explains that a registered voter in the same precinct can vouch for up to eight people: “If you’re all in the same precinct and you are already registered, you can vouch for them as ID. Eight people.” More reports coming soon from the Justice League. @realmuckraker @anthonyjrubin @camhigby @ctznjusticelg
— James O’Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) August 13, 2026
The Gateway Pundit explained O’Keefe wondered, “Under Minnesota’s Statutes § 201.061, a registered voter can sign an affidavit affirming that they know another individual resides in the same precinct, allowing that person to register at the polls without presenting standard proof of residence. One registered voter can vouch for up to eight people. We wanted to find out what this actually looks like inside a polling place and how far election workers would let us take it.”
Higby’s response included an affirmation no laws were broken, and prosecutors want him in prison for exposing election vulnerabilities in Minnesota.
🚨🚨LAWFARE: Minnesota has filed TWO FELONY CHARGES AGAINST ME related to my Burqa video in the state. No laws were broken. They want me in PRISON for exposing election vulnerabilities in their state. Support me below if you can. Thank you all. https://t.co/fmb6v34cQr
— Cam Higby 🇺🇸 (@camhigby) October 28, 2026
The controversy also has provoked charges of “lawfare” against Moriarity, as well as comments about her own scandals.
For example, while with the state public defender’s office, she was suspended on allegations she posted offensive content on social media and created an environment of fear in her office.
The Minnesota Board of Public Defense later voted 4–2 against re-appointing Moriarty, and ultimately, she was paid a $300,000 settlement to conclude all disputes.
After moving into the county office, she attracted scandal by offering deals to teen borthers charged with second-degree murder after shooting and killing a woman on the orders of her former boyfriend.
She allowed them to serve months in a juvenile correctional facility in return for testifying against the boyfriend.
A staff prosecutor removed herself from the case over the stunt by Moriarty, who defended her action claiming her goal is to treat kids like kids. Moriarity then was removed from the case, too.
She repeatedly has been criticized for her apparent leniency for violent offenders, as recipients of her largesse include two teens accused of murder, a person accused of sexual assault on a child, a drug dealer accused of murder, and teen accused of murder during a carjacking and more.
She even has publicly contradicted Keith Ellison, the state’s attorney general and a member of her own party.
Just last year she told her prosecutors to consider race when negotiating plea deals, prompting an investigation from the Department of Justice.
Minnesota officials threaten activists who exposed suspect voting scheme
