Steven Kramer, a political consultant from New Orleans, faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges related to a voter suppression scheme involving robocalls mimicking President Biden’s voice to dissuade New Hampshire voters. The scheme also led to fines against companies and individuals involved in the operation.
Louisiana Political Consultant Indicted on Voter Suppression Charges
Steven Kramer, a 54-year-old political consultant from New Orleans, has been indicted on 13 felony counts of voter suppression in connection with a robocall operation that used artificial intelligence to mimic President Biden’s voice. The robocalls, sent in January, aimed to dissuade New Hampshire voters from participating in the January 23rd Democratic presidential primary, urging them instead to save their votes for the general election in November.
Kramer also faces 13 misdemeanor counts of impersonating a candidate. If convicted, he could face up to seven years in prison for each felony. The charges were spread across five counties in New Hampshire, targeting 13 identified victims among thousands who received the deceptive calls on January 21.
In addition, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a $6 million fine against Kramer for violating the Truth in Caller ID Act. The robocalls appeared to come from the personal number of Kathy Sullivan, a former chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. Paul Carpenter, a magician from New Orleans, has admitted to using AI technology to generate Biden’s voice for the calls.
State and federal investigations linked the robocalls to two Texas-based companies, leading to civil action and a $2 million fine against Lingo Telecom for transmitting the calls. Kramer is scheduled for arraignments in New Hampshire in June.
The New Hampshire Attorney General and FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized their commitment to addressing unlawful election interference.
