New Hampshire authorities have identified the alleged culprit behind the deep fake robocalls that targeted New Hampshire Democrats during the primary election. The calls, which featured a fabricated President Biden urging voters to stay home on primary day, were traced back to the Texas-based Life Corporation. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella announced on Tuesday that his office will initiate a criminal investigation into the hoax.
Life Corporation, known for its telecom marketing services, is under the ownership of Walter Monk. Formella revealed during a press conference in Concord that his team successfully traced the path of a select group of these fraudulent phone calls through the telecom system. He emphasized their commitment to identifying and holding accountable all individuals or companies involved in these deceptive acts. However, no potential motive behind the robocalls was disclosed.
Approximately 5,000 to 25,000 Granite State voters are believed to have received the fake calls before the January 23 primary contest. Despite the disruption caused by the robocalls, Biden emerged as the clear winner in the Democratic primary, garnering support through a write-in campaign. The AI-generated voice impersonating Biden was heard discouraging voters from participating in the primary, claiming that voting on Tuesday would only benefit Republicans and Donald Trump’s re-election bid.
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s office is seeking additional information from entities that may possess pertinent information, even if they are not directly responsible for the calls. The Democratic National Committee, due to the state’s non-compliance with the party’s decision to move the primary to South Carolina, is not expected to allocate delegates from New Hampshire.
Formella’s team, along with the Federal Communications Commission, has issued a cease and desist letter to Life Corporation, demanding an immediate halt to any further illegal conduct. The FCC has not ruled out additional enforcement actions pending the investigation. Formella emphasized that New Hampshire will be a co-lead in any civil or criminal action taken against the responsible parties.
The Washington Post reached out to Life Corporation for comment but received no response. Formella also mentioned that his office is looking into Texas-based Lingo Telecom, although no further details were provided.
Formella concluded the press conference by sending a clear message to those attempting to undermine the integrity of elections: law enforcement across the country is united and prepared to combat such activities. He warned that any person or company engaging in these actions will face consequences and urged them not to attempt it.
