A magician based in New Orleans has made shocking claims that a Democratic consultant paid him $150 to produce fake robocalls featuring President Biden, a recent report reveals. Paul Carpenter, known for his work in technology and artificial intelligence, disclosed that he was recruited by operative Steve Kramer, who was working for Democratic candidate Dean Phillips at the time. Carpenter stated that he crafted the audio for the robocall but did not take part in its distribution.

It has been reported that around 25,000 of these calls, costing only $1 each to create, were made just two days before the January 23rd New Hampshire primary, where Biden secured a victory with the help of write-in campaigns. Following the incident, the New Hampshire attorney general's office initiated a criminal investigation, and the Federal Election Commission sent cease-and-desist letters to two Texas companies believed to be involved in disseminating the AI-generated calls.

Kramer, who was eventually dismissed from his role with Phillips' campaign, is said to have been working on ballot access efforts for the candidate in New York and Pennsylvania. The campaign spokesperson emphasized that any alleged involvement by Kramer in producing the fake robocalls was not in line with their campaign's values of competition and democracy.

As the story unfolds, details have emerged regarding Kramer's history as a political operative, including his involvement in past campaigns for public figures like Kanye West and a Republican candidate for New York City mayor. Carpenter, meanwhile, expressed regret over his role in the robocall scheme, clarifying that he was unaware of the intended purpose of the AI-generated content.

Both Carpenter and Kramer have yet to respond to requests for comment, and their links to the Texas companies under investigation remain unclear. Kramer is reportedly preparing an op-ed to address the situation, while legal action is pending in connection with a separate ballot access matter involving Sara Tirschwell. The intricacies of the case continue to develop, shedding light on the complex intersections between technology, politics, and electoral practices.