Judicial Watch Sues U.S. Department of Justice Over AI Robocall Incident in New Hampshire
Washington, D.C. — Judicial Watch, a conservative legal watchdog group, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The lawsuit seeks to obtain records on the Justice Department’s involvement in a case that stems from alleged voter suppression activities related to the use of artificial intelligence-generated robocalls during the New Hampshire presidential primary earlier this year. The legal action is titled Judicial Watch, Inc. v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:24-cv-03109).
The controversy began in February 2024, during New Hampshire’s presidential primary season, when Steve Kramer, an elections consultant, reportedly commissioned fake robocalls using AI technology to mimic the voice of President Joe Biden. These calls were allegedly made to discourage voters from participating in the primary held on January 23. New Hampshire's Attorney General subsequently charged Kramer with 13 felony counts of voter suppression and 13 misdemeanor counts of impersonation of a candidate.
Following this incident, the League of Women Voters filed a lawsuit against Kramer and associated companies, including Lingo Telecom, LLC, Voice Broadcasting Corporation, and Life Corporation. Judicial Watch’s current lawsuit contends that the Department of Justice has not provided the requested information regarding their role and potential involvement in these cases.
Judicial Watch's FOIA request specifically seeks records from the Office of Legal Counsel, encompassing various forms of communication and documentation about the Voting Rights Act, the AI-generated robocalls, and the individuals and entities involved in the case.
The case joins a series of actions by Judicial Watch focused on election integrity and voter registration issues across the United States. The organisation has a history of engaging in legal battles to keep voter rolls clean and to ensure voting rights compliance. Robert Popper, a senior attorney at Judicial Watch, leads their election law programme. He has extensive experience managing voting rights issues from his previous role in the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department.
Judicial Watch has been active in several states, challenging processes they claim violate voting rights regulations. In October, the organisation filed a lawsuit challenging a Mississippi election law concerning absentee ballot deadlines. They have also been involved in lawsuits against Illinois, California, and Colorado regarding mail-in ballot practices and voter roll maintenance.
The unfolding events in New Hampshire and the subsequent Judicial Watch lawsuits underscore ongoing national debates around election processes, voter suppression, and the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence in political campaigns. Judicial Watch's actions demonstrate their continued commitment to pursuing litigation as a strategy to address these complex election-related matters.
Source: Noah Wire Services