Democrat calls for DOJ to investigate fake Biden robocall urging voters not to show up in NH

Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to the Justice Department (DOJ) on Monday calling for an investigation into a robocall using an imitation of President Biden’s voice, generated by artificial intelligence (AI), urging voters not to show up in New Hampshire’s Tuesday primary.

Morelle, in his note to Attorney General Merrick Garland, said he is deeply concerned about the affects AI could have on the upcoming elections.

He asked the DOJ to look into the incident, first reported by NBC News, ahead of Tuesday’s first-in-the-nation primary in the Granite State, and to ensure the responsible parties are held accountable. He said he hopes the probe could help to prevent the spread of “AI-generated mis-and disinformation in future elections.”

The New Hampshire attorney general’s office said Monday it received complaints about a recorded message that “sounds like” Biden but appeared to be AI-generated.

The office explained the calls appear to be an unlawful effort to disrupt the primary, as voters cast their ballots in one of the first major contests of the 2024 election season. They encouraged voters to disregard the message and to report any information they have about the incident to the state.

“This clear bid to interfere in the New Hampshire primary demands a thorough investigation and a forceful response from federal officials to deter further AI-based attacks that will disrupt American democracy and disenfranchise American voters,” Morelle said in the letter, which was obtained by Punchbowl News.

A spokesperson for Biden’s write-in campaign said the call was reported to the authorities.

It was unclear how many people received the call, but a spokesperson for Kathy Sullivan — a former state Democratic Party chair — said she heard from at least a dozen people who received the call, The Associated Press reported.

“The oaths we swore to protect and defend the Constitution require us to use every tool at our disposal to shield the sanctity of our elections,” Morelle’s letter reads.

“If Congress can strengthen law enforcement’s ability to detect and prevent AI-based attempts to subvert our elections, we look forward to working with you to identify and achieve any meaningful and well-defined standards to protect our democracy,” he added.

The DOJ confirmed it had received Morelle’s letter but declined to comment further.

— Updated at 3:00 p.m.