Skip to content

Crime & JusticeBreaking

Hennepin County charges James O’Keefe and Cam Higby over Minnesota primary voting

By

Coverage spectrum

Covered by 13 outlets across the spectrum.

14 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Smiling man in dark suit and tie in front of a partial banner reading "PROJECT"
Image via TownhallHow images are chosenReport this image

Hennepin County prosecutors charged James O’Keefe and Cam Higby on Wednesday with felony unlawful voting and identity theft. County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced the charges at a press conference. Moriarty said the two men entered polling places during Minnesota’s August primary and identified themselves using the names of registered voters, misrepresenting their identities to election judges. The visits were captured on video. Their group, the Citizen Justice League, said they were testing Minnesota’s 53-year-old voter vouching law. Just the News reports that each charge carries a five-year maximum prison sentence.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office charged James O’Keefe and Cam Higby on Wednesday with felony unlawful voting and identity theft.

    Reported byFar Left1Left5Center1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The New Republic
    Left
    CBS News, The New York Times, NBC News, ABC News, The Guardian
    Center
    The Hill
    Far Right
    Just the News, Townhall

  2. County Attorney Mary Moriarty said the two men used the names of registered voters at polling places during the August primary and misrepresented their identities to election judges.

    Reported byLeft1Center1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The Guardian
    Center
    The Hill

  3. The Citizen Justice League said the men were testing Minnesota’s voter vouching law and aimed to show vulnerabilities in it.

    One side only: the leftReported byLeft2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    CBS News, The Guardian

  4. Each charge carries a five-year maximum prison sentence under state law, according to Just the News.

    One outletJust the News· Far Right

  5. According to the Minnesota secretary of state’s website, under 0.6% of votes in the 2024 general election used vouching.

    One outletThe Guardian· Left

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • The men committed unlawful voting and identity theft.

    Moriarty says they misrepresented their identities to election judges while voting under registered voters’ names. The Citizen Justice League says they were testing the vouching law to show vulnerabilities in it.

  • Minnesota’s voting laws are weak.

    The New Republic says the men set out to make that claim with hidden cameras. The Guardian reports that the secretary of state’s website shows under 0.6% of 2024 general election votes used vouching, largely to update voter records.

How each side tells it

Compare views

All nine outlets report that Hennepin County charged James O’Keefe and Cam Higby with felony unlawful voting and identity theft. Left outlets call the men provocateurs or influencers and the videos a stunt, right outlets call them journalists, and The Hill uses a right-wing activist label.

  • the left

    6 outlets · 1 opinion

    Left headlines lead with the charges and label the men influencers or provocateurs, while the far-left New Republic opinion piece frames the case as a mocked voter-fraud quest.

    Loaded modifier“Right-Wing Provocateur”Calling the pair provocateurs before any verdict adds a pejorative label that the facts do not require.More neutral: conservative content creatorDisagree with this highlight? James O’Keefe Charged in Minnesota Sensational language“Voting Stunt”Calling the video a stunt characterizes the motive and dramatizes it before the charges are tested.More neutral: voting videoDisagree with this highlight?
    The New York TimesLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    2 outlets

    The Hill’s headline is a plain charge report that labels O’Keefe a right-wing activist and gives the charges without further adjectives.

    Right-wing activist James O'Keefe charged with unlawful voting, identity theft
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    5 outlets

    Right headlines center the charges and the videos: Townhall calls O’Keefe a conservative journalist and calls the output an undercover report, not a stunt.

    James O'Keefe Faces Felony Charges Over Undercover Report at Polling Locations
    TownhallFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left6

    Right-Wing ProvocateurVoting Stunttried so hard to find voter fraud“Voter Fraud” Quest

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded modifier

    Right-Wing ProvocateurMore neutral: conservative content creator

    Calling the pair provocateurs before any verdict adds a pejorative label that the facts do not require.

    Right-Wing Provocateur James O’Keefe Charged in Minnesota Voting Stunt

    Used byThe New York Times (Left)

  • Sensational language

    Voting StuntMore neutral: voting video

    Calling the video a stunt characterizes the motive and dramatizes it before the charges are tested.

    Right-Wing Provocateur James O’Keefe Charged in Minnesota Voting Stunt

    Used byThe New York Times (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    tried so hard to find voter fraudMore neutral: sought to show weaknesses in Minnesota’s voting rules

    The phrase judges the pair’s motive and effort before the case is decided.

    Two conservative influencers tried so hard to find voter fraud in Minnesota that they’re now being charged with identity theft.

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

  • Delegitimizing label

    “Voter Fraud” QuestMore neutral: a search for voter fraud

    Scare quotes around voter fraud present the concern as a fiction without evidence.

    Conservatives on “Voter Fraud” Quest Get Charged With Identity Theft

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

Show 2 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded modifier

    conservative provocateurMore neutral: conservative influencer

    The word provocateur adds a pejorative label to the pair that goes beyond their stated occupation.

    A Minnesota prosecutor on Wednesday charged conservative provocateur James O’Keefe and conservative journalist Cam Higby with felony counts of…

    Used byNBC News (Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    right-wing provocateursMore neutral: two conservative influencers

    The label “provocateurs” presumes intent before the charges are decided.

    Two right-wing provocateurs are facing Minnesota election-related charges after posting videos of an…

    Used byABC News (Left)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

6 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • felony charges against the two men
  • the men’s disguises at polling places
  • the men’s status as right-wing influencers

Leaves out

  • the five-year maximum sentence

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 7 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • The Daily BeastFar Left

    MAGA Provocateur Jailed for Voting Fraud

    Conservative activist James O’Keefe and one other were arrested after dressing up in mock Islamic garb and attempting to cast votes at a Minnesota polling place. …

    Read at The Daily Beast (opens in a new tab)
  • The GuardianLeft

    Conservative influencers charged with unlawful voting, disguising themselves in ‘Muslim garb’

    James O’Keefe and Cam Higby were trying to show vulnerabilities in allowing a voter to vouch for another Two rightwing influencers have been charged with felonies in Minneapolis over attempts in the state’s election primary to disguise themselves in what they called “Muslim …

    Read at The Guardian (opens in a new tab)
  • ABC NewsLeft

    2 Loaded modifier“right-wing provocateurs”The label “provocateurs” presumes intent before the charges are decided.More neutral: two conservative influencersDisagree with this highlight? facing election-related charges in Minnesota

    Two Loaded modifier“right-wing provocateurs”The label “provocateurs” presumes intent before the charges are decided.More neutral: two conservative influencersDisagree with this highlight? are facing Minnesota election-related charges after posting videos of an undercover stunt intended to expose election security deficiencies.

    Read at ABC News (opens in a new tab)
  • NBC NewsLeft

    Conservative influencer James O’Keefe charged with unlawful voting and identity theft in Minnesota

    A Minnesota district attorney on Wednesday charged conservative influencers James O’Keefe and Cam Higby with felony counts of unlawful voting and identity theft.

    Read at NBC News (opens in a new tab)
  • The New York TimesLeft

    Loaded modifier“Right-Wing Provocateur”Calling the pair provocateurs before any verdict adds a pejorative label that the facts do not require.More neutral: conservative content creatorDisagree with this highlight? James O’Keefe Charged in Minnesota Sensational language“Voting Stunt”Calling the video a stunt characterizes the motive and dramatizes it before the charges are tested.More neutral: voting videoDisagree with this highlight?

    He and another content creator, Cam Higby, are accused of breaking the law when they posed as Islamic voters in August.

    Read at The New York Times (opens in a new tab)
  • CBS NewsLeft

    Charges filed against activists who posed as Minnesota voters

    Activists who call themselves the Citizen Justice League said they were testing Minnesota's 53-year-old voter voucher law. Videos from the August primary showed them claiming to be registered voters.

    Read at CBS News (opens in a new tab)
  • The New RepublicFar LeftOpinion

    Conservatives on Delegitimizing label““Voter Fraud” Quest”Scare quotes around voter fraud present the concern as a fiction without evidence.More neutral: a search for voter fraudDisagree with this highlight? Get Charged With Identity Theft

    Two conservative influencers Loaded verb“tried so hard to find voter fraud”The phrase judges the pair’s motive and effort before the case is decided.More neutral: sought to show weaknesses in Minnesota’s voting rulesDisagree with this highlight? in Minnesota that they’re now being charged with identity theft. Cam Higby and James O’Keefe were charged with felony counts of identity theft and unlawful voting by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office after they …

    Read at The New Republic (opens in a new tab)

From the center

2 outlets

Leads with

  • unlawful voting and identity fraud charges
  • the press conference announcement
  • use of registered voters’ names

Leaves out

  • the activists’ stated aim of testing the vouching law
  • the five-year maximum sentence

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 2 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • Straight Arrow NewsCenter

    Conservative activists charged after stunt at Minnesota polling place

    Prosecutors charged James O'Keefe and another man with election crimes after they said they impersonated registered voters during a stunt.

    Read at Straight Arrow News (opens in a new tab)
  • The HillCenter

    Right-wing activist James O'Keefe charged with unlawful voting, identity theft

    Conservative influencer James O’Keefe was charged in Minnesota Wednesday after he and fellow right-leaning commentator Cam Higby misrepresented themselves using registered voters' names at polling places during the state’s primary election earlier this year. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)

From the right

5 outlets

Leads with

  • the felony charges
  • the undercover videos and reports
  • the men as journalist and influencer

Leaves out

  • the activists’ stated aim of testing the vouching law

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 5 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • Daily MailRight

    America's wokest prosecutor charges conservative activist James O'Keefe with unlawful voting after he dressed in Muslim garb and went to polling station 'to expose the sheer lunacy of Minnesota system'

    Influencers James O'Keefe and Cam Higby were charged on Wednesday with unlawful voting and identity theft by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty over a political stunt they pulled in August.

    Read at Daily Mail (opens in a new tab)
  • RedStateFar Right

    Democrats Finally Find an Election Case They Want Prosecuted to the Fullest Extent

    Conservative activist James O’Keefe and Cam Higby have been charged with felonies in Minnesota over an undercover operation at polling places during the state’s August primary.

    Read at RedState (opens in a new tab)
  • Washington ExaminerRight

    Minnesota prosecutors charge two right-wing influencers for posing as voters

    Prosecutors in Hennepin County, Minnesota, charged right-wing influencers James O’Keefe and Cam Higby on Wednesday for impersonating voters in videos they posted during the state’s Aug. 11 primary election. …

    Read at Washington Examiner (opens in a new tab)
  • TownhallFar Right

    James O'Keefe Faces Felony Charges Over Undercover Report at Polling Locations

    The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office charged conservative journalist James O’Keefe and influencer Cam Higby on Wednesday over an undercover report on Minnesota’s polling places.

    Read at Townhall (opens in a new tab)
  • Just the NewsFar Right

    James O'Keefe charged over viral voting video in Minnesota

    State law bars impersonation of a registered voter and identity theft. Both carry a five-year prison maximum prison sentence.

    Read at Just the News (opens in a new tab)

The stories you read build My Mix, a private picture of which sides cover the stories you choose, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    First to report

    CBS News, Oct 28, 11:29 AM EDT

  • Center

    2 hr 49 min later

    Its first report, Oct 28, 2:17 PM EDT

  • Right

    2 hr later

    Its first report, Oct 28, 1:30 PM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. CBS NewsLeftOct 28, 11:29 AM EDT
  2. The New York TimesLeftOct 28, 11:41 AM EDT
  3. NBC NewsLeftOct 28, 12:48 PM EDT
  4. TownhallFar RightOct 28, 1:30 PM EDT
  5. ABC NewsLeftOct 28, 1:36 PM EDT
  6. The GuardianLeftOct 28, 2:07 PM EDT
  7. The HillCenterOct 28, 2:17 PM EDT
  8. Washington ExaminerRightOct 28, 2:41 PM EDT
  9. Straight Arrow NewsCenterOct 28, 2:53 PM EDT
  10. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 28, 2:56 PM EDT
  11. RedStateFar RightOct 28, 2:57 PM EDT
  12. Daily MailRightOct 28, 3:03 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

Read next

Help someone else find the truth beneath the surface

Most people see one side of a story. Share this one, so they can see how every side is telling it and decide for themselves.

Email it

Seen a mistake? Tell us what is wrong with this page