Omar Likely Didn't Engage in Illegal Ballot Harvesting

Misbar’s investigation found that Project Veritas is a right-wing activist group known for conducting sting operations against liberal causes. While the group’s ethical values include the notion that “truth is paramount,” they have been accused by many of being peddlers of fake news.

The video produced by Project Veritas shows a man, Liban Mohamed, discussing the many ballots he’s collected. It also includes an anonymous source who says that voters were paid for the ballots.

However, ballot harvesting, or having a third party collect and deliver ballots, is legal in Minnesota. 

It initially had a 3-person restriction, which was lifted in August and then partially reinstated for the general election. The ballot harvesting shown in the video is for Minneapolis City Council Member Jamal Osman, who won his seat in August when the restrictions were lifted. 

Further, Mohamed does not work for Omar or her campaign. While the anonymous source claiming to exchange money for votes is troubling, nothing in the video demonstrates that such an exchange took place. It is impossible to discern whether the claim is accurate since the source has not come forward and no other evidence such as a money trail has been discovered.

Omar’s Senior Communications Director Jeremy Slevin said: "The amount of truth to this story is equal to the amount Donald Trump paid in taxes of ten out of the last fifteen years: zero. And amplifying a coordinated right-wing campaign to delegitimize a free and fair election this fall undermines our democracy."

Since ballot harvesting is legal in Minnesota, Omar is not connected to Mohamed, and the anonymous source has provided no substantiation, we rate this claim as suspicious.