Steve Simon says attempts to deceive election workers will not be tolerated
Steve SimonMinnesota secretary of state, quoted in the Hennepin County Attorney's Office release
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, quoted in the county attorney's release announcing the charges, says any attempt to disrupt or deceive election workers will not be tolerated and thanks law enforcement for holding the two men to account.
Responding to
James O'Keefe and Cam Higby misrepresented their identities by giving election judges names of registered voters in the precinct without those voters' knowledge or permission.
“any attempt to disrupt or deceive our election workers will not be tolerated.”
Official statement
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Hennepin County charges James O'Keefe and Cam Higby over Minneapolis vouching videos; O'Keefe says they never applied for a ballot
On October 28, 2026, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office charged James O'Keefe and Cam Higby with felony unlawful voting and identity theft. Prosecutors say the two men gave election judges at Minneapolis precincts the names of registered voters, without those voters' knowledge, while filming a video about Minnesota's vouching rules during the August 11 primary. O'Keefe says they never applied for a ballot and describes the work as journalism. Higby says no laws were broken.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
News release from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office dated October 28, 2026. It announces felony charges of unlawful voting and identity theft against James O'Keefe and Cam Higby over their conduct at Hennepin County precincts during the August 11 primary, quotes County Attorney Mary Moriarty and Secretary of State Steve Simon, and lists the case numbers.
Reporting
About this source
ABC News report on the charges, carried by WDBO. It quotes Moriarty and Simon, describes the video the two men posted in August, and quotes Higby's statement on X that no laws were broken.
Before the quotation
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office release announces felony charges of unlawful voting and identity theft against O'Keefe and Higby and quotes County Attorney Mary Moriarty. Simon then says polling places should be places of safety and peace.
After the quotation
The release then says Minnesota law bars intentionally misrepresenting one's identity in applying for a ballot, and that both men did so although neither signed the oath.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is O'Keefe and Higby's conduct at Minneapolis polling places during the August 11 primary, where prosecutors say they gave election judges registered voters' names while asking about vouching. Simon says attempts to deceive election workers will not be tolerated and welcomes the charges against the two men.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- James O'Keefe, Cam Higby
More from this case
Read the full caseCam Higby says Minnesota charges journalists while sex offenders walk free
“In Minnesota it seems sex offenders walk free and journalists get charged and bombarded by the state.”Read statement
Rand Paul asks why Minnesota goes after O'Keefe and Higby instead of the actual bad guys
“Massive, multi-million-dollar social services and healthcare fraud scandals, and yet Minnesota chooses to go after @JamesOKeefeIII and @camhigby. Any interest in going after the actual bad guys, Minnesota?”Read statement
James O'Keefe says questioning polling officials is journalism, not a crime
“If that's a crime, anyone who speaks with a polling official and asks questions is also committing a crime. Journalism is not a crime.”Read statement
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- Steve Simon says attempts to deceive election workers will not be tolerated
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The Dispute Index. "Steve Simon says attempts to deceive election workers will not be tolerated". First published: 2026-11-01. Last updated: 2026-11-01. https://disputeindex.com/events/7716-minnesota-secretary-of-state-steve-simon-quoted-in