Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe charged with identity theft over fake names given to Minnesota poll workers

Conservative activists James O’Keefe and Cam Higby have been charged in Minnesota after a prosecutor said they provided false names to poll workers during the state’s primary election.

The charges, filed Wednesday, include unlawful voting and identity theft. The case centers on exchanges at polling locations in which the men allegedly used names that were not their own.

Video Intended to Highlight Voting Law Vulnerabilities

O’Keefe and Higby recorded the interactions. According to the account provided, the video was intended to expose what the activists said were vulnerabilities in Minnesota’s voting laws.

The incident places the methods used in that recording effort at the center of the legal case. While the stated purpose was to test or highlight weaknesses in election procedures, the prosecutor’s allegations have resulted in criminal charges tied to the names given to poll workers and the conduct at the polling locations.

Why the Case Matters

The charges connect election-security advocacy with the legal limits surrounding participation in the voting process. The case also draws attention to how interactions with poll workers can become subject to criminal scrutiny when false identifying information is allegedly provided.

The available information does not state how the case will proceed or whether the defendants have entered pleas. At this stage, the central facts are the charges, the alleged use of false names during Minnesota’s primary election and the recording made by the activists.