Political consultant facing prison time for AI Biden robocalls has no regrets

A political consultant from New Orleans testified that he has no regrets about orchestrating AI-generated robocalls that mimicked President Biden’s voice, claiming his actions were intended to highlight the dangers of artificial intelligence rather than suppress votes. Steven Kramer, 56, faces decades in prison on charges of voter suppression and impersonating a candidate for the calls sent to thousands of New Hampshire voters just days before the state’s 2024 Democratic primary.

What you should know: The robocalls used AI to replicate Biden’s voice and catchphrase “What a bunch of malarkey,” telling recipients to save their votes for the November election instead of the primary.

• Kramer paid a New Orleans magician $150 to create the AI-generated recording that was sent to thousands of voters on January 21, 2024, two days before New Hampshire’s presidential primary.
• The calls falsely suggested that voting in the primary would prevent voters from casting ballots in the November general election.
• Recipients heard the message: “It’s important that you save your vote for the November election. Your votes make a difference in November, not this Tuesday.”

Kramer’s defense: The consultant argued his goal was to demonstrate AI’s potential dangers and that he didn’t consider the primary a legitimate election.

• “This is going to be my one good deed this year,” Kramer testified, explaining he was concerned about the lack of AI regulations in campaigns.
• He claimed the primary was a “meaningless straw poll” because the Democratic National Committee had moved New Hampshire from its traditional early position in the nominating calendar.
• When asked by his attorney if he did anything illegal, Kramer responded: “I’m positive I did not.”

The deception tactics: The robocalls were designed to appear legitimate by using a former Democratic Party official’s identity and contact information.

• The calls appeared to come from Kathy Sullivan, a former New Hampshire Democratic Party chair, and instructed voters to call her number to be removed from the call list.
• Sullivan testified that she was “confused and then outraged” after receiving calls from recipients and hearing the message herself.
• Months later, Kramer called Sullivan directly to explain his motives, but she didn’t believe his explanation about highlighting AI dangers.

What they’re saying: Sullivan expressed skepticism about Kramer’s claimed motivations during her testimony.

• “My sense was he was trying to convince me that he’d done this defensible, good thing,” Sullivan said. “I’m listening to this thinking to myself, ‘What does he think I am, stupid?’ He tried to suppress the vote.”
• Kramer maintained his innocence, telling the court he had “no regrets” and that his actions “likely spurred AI regulations in multiple states.”

The broader implications: The case represents one of the first major prosecutions involving AI-generated content in political campaigns.

• Kramer faces a separate $6 million fine from the Federal Communications Commission, which he told The Associated Press he won’t pay.
• Lingo Telecom, the company that transmitted the calls, agreed to pay $1 million in a settlement in August.
• The trial continues Thursday with prosecutors set to cross-examine Kramer.