Fact Check: Kramer admitted to robocalls urging voters to skip the primary.

Fact Check: "Kramer admitted to robocalls urging voters to skip the primary."

What We Know

Steven Kramer, a political consultant, orchestrated a series of robocalls that utilized artificial intelligence to mimic former President Joe Biden's voice. These calls were sent to voters in New Hampshire just two days before the state's presidential primary on January 23, 2024. The content of the calls included messages suggesting that voters should "save your vote for the November election," implying that participating in the primary would prevent them from voting in the general election (AP News, Washington Post).

Kramer admitted to sending these calls, which he claimed were intended as a wake-up call about the potential dangers of AI in political campaigning. He testified that he paid a magician $150 to create the AI-generated recording (AP News, New York Times). Despite his admission, he was acquitted of charges related to voter suppression and impersonating a candidate, with the jury agreeing that the calls did not constitute illegal activity under New Hampshire law (NPR, AP News).

Analysis

The evidence presented in the trial indicates that Kramer did indeed send robocalls that urged voters to skip the primary. The calls explicitly stated, "It’s important that you save your vote for the November election," which prosecutors argued was misleading and could deter voters from participating in the primary (Washington Post, NPR).

Kramer's defense hinged on the argument that the primary was not a legitimate election because it was not sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee (DNC). This defense was ultimately rejected by the court, which ruled that the primary was legally recognized (Washington Post). The credibility of the sources reporting on this case is high, as they include established news organizations like the Associated Press and NPR, which are known for their rigorous fact-checking and journalistic standards.

However, it's important to note that while Kramer admitted to orchestrating the calls, the jury's acquittal suggests that they found his actions did not meet the legal definitions of voter suppression or impersonation of a candidate. This raises questions about the effectiveness of existing laws in addressing such tactics, especially in the context of emerging technologies like AI (NPR, New York Times).

Conclusion

The claim that "Kramer admitted to robocalls urging voters to skip the primary" is True. Kramer did admit to sending the robocalls that suggested voters should not participate in the primary election. Despite being acquitted of related charges, the content of the calls clearly indicated an intention to influence voter behavior in a manner that could be interpreted as urging them to skip the primary.