2 charged in Minneapolis election video; each count carries 5 years, $10,000 fine

James O'Keefe and Cam Higby each face one count of unlawful voting and one count of identity theft in Hennepin County, Minnesota, prosecutors said Wednesday. The charges stem from an August video the two men recorded at multiple Minneapolis voting precincts.

In the video, the men approached election judges wearing burqas and speaking in fake accents. Prosecutors said they used the identities of real Minnesota voters "without those voters' knowledge or permission," violating state law. No ballots were cast during the episode. The video, titled "I Wore Burqa To EXPOSE Election FRAUD In Minneapolis," remains pinned to Higby's X account.

Each count carries up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Charging documents show neither man is in custody. O'Keefe describes himself as a "guerilla journalist" known for undercover videos; Higby is a social media influencer.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement, "Elections are the bedrock of democracy and their protection is one of our highest priorities." She added, "Individuals engaging in unlawful conduct related to our elections will be held accountable."

Higby wrote on X, "No laws were broken. They want me in PRISON for exposing election vulnerabilities in their state." O'Keefe did not respond to a request for comment. Steve Simon, Minnesota's top election official, said in a statement that "any attempt to disrupt or deceive our election workers will not be tolerated." The men say their video was meant to show gaps in rules that let residents vouch for another voter's identity.

Neither man is in custody, according to charging documents. The video shows the two approaching election judges at multiple Minneapolis precincts.