James O'Keefe and Cam Higby charged with felonies over hidden-camera polling-place videos in Minnesota
MPR explains how Minnesota's vouching law works and why prosecutors say the case isn't about whether anyone actually voted.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced on October 28 felony charges of unlawful voting and identity theft against conservative activists James O'Keefe and Cameron Higby over videos filmed at Minneapolis polling places during Minnesota's August 11 primary. In the videos, the men, wearing Islamic dress and using accents, ask election workers about vouching, the Minnesota rule letting a registered voter swear to the address of up to eight unregistered voters. Moriarty said they gave names of registered voters, including some who had died and at least one who had voted. "I think it's pretty clear they did not intend to vote. That's not the question here," she said, adding "you cannot give somebody else's name and misrepresent yourself." Neither man signed a vouching oath.
O'Keefe's group said in August its people "did not cast ballots" and were testing the law; Higby denied breaking any law. A first court appearance is set for November 16.