Left-wing Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty filed felony charges Wednesday against reporters James O’Keefe and Cam Higby in connection to a viral video they filmed in Minneapolis earlier this year.
The August video was viewed more than 9 million times on X and brought renewed attention to Minnesota’s controversial voter “vouching” law.
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… pic.twitter.com/bUPVxym08G
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) August 13, 2026
Under Minnesota state law, an individual seeking to become registered to vote on Election Day can confirm their residency simply by having a registered voter “vouch” for them.
Registered voters can vouch for up to eight people, but someone who is vouched for cannot vouch for someone else. Staff at residential facilities can vouch for an unlimited number of facility residents.
The law requires the voucher to accompany the vouchee to the polling place and sign an oath affirming that the voucher is either registered in the precinct or employed by the residential facility, and that the voucher personally knows the vouchee resides in the precinct.
The Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office previously told Alpha News that “vouching is only used to provide proof of a potential voter’s residence in the precinct. The potential voter must still provide their Minnesota driver’s license or ID card number, or the last four digits of their social security number, for identity verification.”
America First Legal (AFL) obtained data earlier this year showing that 18,898 people used “vouching” to either update their voter registration or become registered to vote in Minnesota in 2024.
In the video released by O’Keefe and Higby, they visited various Minneapolis polling places during the primary election while dressed in Muslim attire.
“And no ID needed. I just vouch for them,” O’Keefe says in the video.
“Well you’re the ID,” a poll worker replies.
Now, Moriarty has charged O’Keefe and Higby with felony counts of unlawful voting and identify theft.
She alleged that both Higby and O’Keefe “visited multiple precincts in Hennepin County and misrepresented their identities by giving election judges names of registered voters in the precinct without those voters’ 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,” said Moriarty, who isn’t seeking reelection after a single term in office that was marked by various controversies.
“Fascists lock up journalists,” Higby wrote on social media in response to the charges. “No laws were broken. They want me in PRISON for exposing election vulnerabilities in their state.”
Will Chamberlain, senior counsel for the Article III Project, slammed Moriarty for bringing the charges.
They revealed how easy it is to commit fraud in your system – without actually defrauding anyone – and you are prosecuting them for embarrassing you?
Shame on you, you yourself should face federal investigation. https://t.co/hgK8Ui6XGS
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) October 28, 2026
“They revealed how easy it is to commit fraud in your system — without actually defrauding anyone — and you are prosecuting them for embarrassing you?” he wrote. “Shame on you, you yourself should face federal investigation.”
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
