Chaos erupts as activist tries to expose voter fraud on LA's Skid Row

Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe and his team were allegedly assaulted while confronting petitioners they claim were illegally offering drugs for ballot signatures.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:24pm

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A political activist's attempt to uncover fraud while reporting on the streets of Los Angeles erupted into chaos when he and his crew got caught in a violent confrontation captured on video. Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe and members of his team were shown approaching a pair of men on Skid Row and accusing them of voter fraud, but the situation quickly spiraled when O'Keefe's cameraman was allegedly punched and the group was pepper-sprayed, forcing them to flee the area.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the growing tensions and allegations of voter fraud, particularly in vulnerable communities like Skid Row. It also raises questions about the tactics and credibility of groups like Project Veritas, which have been accused of deceptive practices in the past.

The details

O'Keefe and his team were in the heart of Skid Row confronting petitioners they had previously caught on tape allegedly offering drugs in exchange for ballot signatures, which is illegal in California. The confrontation turned violent, with O'Keefe's cameraman being punched in the face and neck, and the group being pepper-sprayed, forcing them to scatter and flee the area.

  • On March 21, 2026, the incident occurred on Skid Row in Los Angeles.

The players

James O'Keefe

The founder of Project Veritas, a conservative activist group known for undercover sting videos exposing alleged misconduct.

Cam Higby

A member of O'Keefe's camera crew who was allegedly punched during the confrontation.

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What they’re saying

“My team, myself & Cam Higby were just violently assaulted on Skid Row, my camera crew were punched in the neck and face, we were pepper-sprayed, but thankfully just escaped. Some members of our team had to run 10 blocks to get out.”

— James O'Keefe, Founder, Project Veritas

“We were in the heart of Skid Row confronting the petitioners who @Savsays and my team caught on tape illegally offering drugs for ballot signatures. Please share this video to understand what we're up against.”

— James O'Keefe, Founder, Project Veritas

What’s next

Officials have acknowledged the video, with a federal prosecutor signaling that potential violations of election law would be taken seriously, though no specific investigation has been confirmed.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and allegations surrounding voter fraud, particularly in vulnerable communities. It also raises questions about the tactics and credibility of groups like Project Veritas, which have been accused of deceptive practices in the past.