Investigation by the Attorney General’s Office
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s office is looking into a robocall that pretended to be President Joe Biden.
Artificially Generated Voice
The voice in the robocall seems to be computer-generated, and officials consider these messages an illegal attempt to interfere with the New Hampshire Presidential Primary Election and discourage people from voting.
Robocall Content
The robocall starts with the phrase “What a bunch of malarkey” and advises recipients not to vote in the primary. It suggests saving their vote for the November election, claiming that voting on Tuesday would benefit Republicans and help elect Donald Trump again.
Caller’s Identity
The message ends with a phone number belonging to Kathy Sullivan, a former chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. She is currently leading a super PAC supporting the campaign to encourage New Hampshire Democrats to write in Biden’s name in the primary. Notably, Biden’s name is not on Tuesday’s ballot.
Late Write-in Effort
Local supporters initiated a late write-in effort to show support for Biden and convey a message to the national party regarding New Hampshire’s primary tradition.
Legal Action
Kathy Sullivan, who received calls about the robocall, is expressing concern and plans to take legal action against those responsible. The Biden campaign is also considering additional actions, and federal law enforcement might be involved.
Background on Kathy Sullivan
Kathy Sullivan was the party chair in 2002 during a phone-jamming incident in a U.S. Senate race. Two Republican officials were convicted of disrupting Democrats’ get-out-the-vote call center operations.
Concerns about AI Impact
State officials, including Secretary of State David Scanlan and Sen. Maggie Hassan, condemn the robocalls and express worries about the influence of artificial intelligence on political campaigns.
Response from Rep. Dean Phillips’ Campaign
Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, who is challenging Biden for the nomination, finds the robocalls “wildly concerning.”
Trump Campaign Denial
A spokesperson for Trump’s campaign denies any connection to the robocalls, stating that they have nothing to do with it.
Call for Truth and Increased Turnout
Officials, including Sen. Maggie Hassan, are urging voters to ensure their friends and neighbors are aware of the truth. They encourage a larger turnout to write in President Biden’s name despite his absence on the official ballot.