Queens Candidate Jonathan Rinaldi Arrested on Forgery Charges Over AI Fake Campaign Posts
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 8
Queens Candidate Jonathan Rinaldi Arrested on Forgery Charges Over AI Fake Campaign Posts
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 8
Summary
June 24 brought misdemeanor forgery charges against Queens city council candidate Jonathan Rinaldi after prosecutors said he used AI to fabricate news stories and endorsements during his 2025 campaign.
One post, styled with a CNN logo, falsely claimed incumbent Lynn Schulman had dropped out; others invented backing from local groups, a police precinct and schoolchildren, according to the complaint.
Rinaldi, 47, called the material protected satire and political speech, but officials cast it as voter fraud in what appears to be a rare criminal case tied to a candidate’s AI-generated messaging.
The arrest lands amid a wider 2026 fight over AI in campaigns, with more than 30 states regulating political deepfakes and an 85% share of Americans saying such content is likely to spread election misinformation.
When AI can fake anything from news to endorsements, how can voters possibly trust what they see during an election?
With AI making deception easy, can old forgery laws protect elections, or are new, tech-specific rules urgently needed?
New York’s First AI Election Forgery Case: The Prosecution of Jonathan Rinaldi and the Legal Battle Over Synthetic Campaign Misinformation
Overview
Jonathan Rinaldi’s arrest marks New York’s first prosecution for AI-related election interference, highlighting new challenges in election law. During his City Hall campaign, Rinaldi admitted to creating and sharing false endorsements on social media, including fabricated support from the Queens Jewish Alliance and Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi. He also posted AI-generated videos that falsely showed endorsements from a police precinct and an elementary school—institutions legally barred from political endorsements. This case underscores how AI can be used to deceive voters and demonstrates authorities’ efforts to adapt existing laws to protect election integrity in the digital age.