Fact Check: Steven Kramer, a political operative from New Orleans, was acquitted on all charges by a Belknap County Superior Court jury for orchestrating robocalls that used an AI-generated voice mimicking President Biden.

Fact Check: Steven Kramer Acquitted of Charges Related to AI-Generated Robocalls

What We Know

Steven Kramer, a political operative from New Orleans, was acquitted by a jury in Belknap County, New Hampshire, of all charges related to orchestrating robocalls that utilized an AI-generated voice mimicking President Biden. The robocalls were sent to thousands of New Hampshire voters just days before the state's presidential primary on January 23, 2024. The calls suggested that voters should "save [their] vote for the November election," implying that voting in the primary would prevent them from voting in the general election (AP News, CBS News).

Kramer faced 11 felony counts of voter suppression and 11 misdemeanor counts of impersonating a candidate, with each felony charge carrying a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison. During the trial, he testified that his intent was to raise awareness about the dangers of AI in political campaigning, rather than to suppress votes (AP News, WBUR).

Analysis

The acquittal of Steven Kramer is supported by the jury's assessment of the evidence presented during the trial. Prosecutors argued that the robocalls undermined the integrity of the primary election, while Kramer's defense contended that the primary was a non-binding straw poll and that he did not impersonate a candidate since the message did not explicitly name Biden, who was not officially running in the primary (AP News, CBS News).

The jury's decision indicates that they found Kramer's arguments persuasive, particularly regarding the interpretation of the law concerning voter suppression and candidate impersonation. The defense's strategy to redirect blame towards the Democratic National Committee (DNC) for its handling of the primary also played a role in the trial's outcome. Kramer's testimony highlighted his concerns about the unregulated use of AI in political campaigns, which may have resonated with jurors (AP News, CBS News).

The credibility of the sources reporting on this case is generally high, with major news outlets like the Associated Press and CBS News providing detailed coverage of the trial and its implications. However, it is essential to recognize that media narratives can sometimes be influenced by editorial perspectives, which may affect the framing of the events (AP News, CBS News).

Conclusion

The claim that Steven Kramer was acquitted on all charges related to orchestrating AI-generated robocalls mimicking President Biden is True. The jury found him not guilty of both felony voter suppression and misdemeanor impersonation of a candidate, suggesting that they did not believe the prosecution's case met the burden of proof required for a conviction. Kramer's defense effectively argued that his actions were not intended to suppress votes and that the legal definitions applied did not fit the circumstances of the case.

Sources

1. Steven Kramer Charged with Voter Suppression Over AI ...
2. Consultant acquitted of AI robocall voter suppression charges | AP News
3. Steve Kramer, who sent AI robocalls mimicking Biden ...
4. Political consultant behind fake Biden robocalls posts bail ...
5. N.H. jury acquits consultant behind AI robocalls mimicking Biden ... - WBUR
6. 对一个陌生的英文名字，如何快速确定哪个是姓哪个 ...
7. C盘APPData目录如何清理，目前占用了几十G？ - 知乎
8. New Hampshire jury acquits consultant behind AI robocalls ...