明尼苏达州检察官起诉James O'Keefe与Cam Higby：初选日冒用登记选民姓名启动「担保」登记，各被控非法投票与身份盗窃两项重罪
明尼苏达州亨内平县（Hennepin County）检察官 Mary Moriarty 于10月28日在 Minneapolis 宣布，保守派活动人士 James O'Keefe（42岁，住 Florida 州 West Palm Beach）与网络影响者 Cam Higby（26岁，住 Washington 州 Covington）各被控非法投票与身份盗窃两项重罪。检方指，二人于8月11日初选日在 Minneapolis 多个投票站冒用该选区登记选民的姓名，启动明尼苏达州同日登记的「担保」（vouching）流程，并以隐藏摄像机记录全程；两项罪名每项最高可判5年监禁。
据刑事起诉书与检察官在记者会上的说明，二人当时身穿其自称的「穆斯林服饰」、使用假口音，向选举工作人员报出真实登记选民的姓名，其中部分姓名属于已故选民，且均未取得姓名本人的知情或同意。二人其后把视频发到社交媒体，观看量超过1,000万次，自称目的是暴露「担保」制度的漏洞。
Moriarty 表示，二人并未签署担保登记所需的宣誓书，也未取得或投出选票，但这并不影响指控成立：「明尼苏达州法律写得很清楚，任何人不得在申请选票时故意冒称自己的身份。」「选举是民主的基石，保护选举是我们最高优先事项之一。与选举有关的违法行为人将被追究责任。」
明尼苏达州的「担保」制度允许同一选区的登记选民为他人的居住事实作证，一名选民最多可为8人担保，养老等居住机构的工作人员也可为本机构住户担保。州务卿办公室数据显示，该制度使用极少，2024年大选选票中占比不足0.6%，多为搬入养老机构、需要更新姓名或地址登记的长者。检察官办公室称，投票站工作人员当时已对二人的行为起疑并上报，本案由州务卿 Steve Simon 办公室转介。
O'Keefe 是以暗访式视频成名的保守派活动人士，曾创办 Project Veritas，其后离开该机构；Higby 为其合作者。截至宣布起诉时，二人尚未答辩，法院记录未列出其辩护律师；O'Keefe 的媒体机构与 Higby 未回应多家媒体的置评请求。此案宣布时距11月3日中期选举投票日不足一周。
Minnesota Prosecutor Charges James O'Keefe and Cam Higby With Felony Unlawful Voting and Identity Theft Over Primary-Day Vouching Stunt
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced in Minneapolis on October 28 that conservative activist James O'Keefe, 42, of West Palm Beach, Florida, and influencer Cam Higby, 26, of Covington, Washington, have each been charged with felony unlawful voting and identity theft. Prosecutors say that on August 11, primary election day, the two men entered several Minneapolis polling places, gave election judges the names of registered voters in those precincts, and began the state's same-day registration 'vouching' process while filming with hidden cameras. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
According to the criminal complaints and Moriarty's news conference, the men wore what O'Keefe described as traditional Muslim attire and used fake accents, identifying themselves with the names of real registered voters — some of them deceased — without those voters' knowledge or permission. They later posted the videos to social media, where they drew more than 10 million views, saying their purpose was to expose vulnerabilities in the vouching system.
Moriarty said neither man signed the oath required under the vouching process, obtained a ballot, or cast a vote, but that this did not matter under state law: 'Minnesota law states clearly that no individual shall intentionally misrepresent their identity in applying for a ballot.' 'Elections are the bedrock of democracy and their protection is one of our highest priorities,' she said. 'Individuals engaging in unlawful conduct related to our elections will be held accountable.'
Under Minnesota's vouching system, a registered voter in a precinct may vouch for the residency of up to eight other people so they can register and vote the same day, and staff of residential facilities may vouch for their residents. According to the Secretary of State's office, the process is rarely used — fewer than 0.6% of votes in the 2024 general election — typically by retirees who have moved into assisted living and need to update their registration. Poll workers were suspicious of the men's behavior and reported it, and the case was referred by Secretary of State Steve Simon's office.
O'Keefe, who founded Project Veritas and was later ousted from it, is known for undercover sting-style videos; Higby is a collaborator. Neither man has yet entered a plea, court records do not name an attorney for either, and neither O'Keefe's media organization nor Higby responded to requests for comment. The charges were announced less than a week before the November 3 midterm elections.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：图：位于 Minneapolis 的亨内平县政府中心（Hennepin County Government Center）正门，本案起诉方亨内平县检察官办公室所在建筑。照片：Tony Webster 摄，CC BY-SA 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The entrance of the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, home to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, which brought the charges. Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
