Assembly candidate posts AI deepfake of Hevesi days after fraud accusation - Queens Daily Eagle
Assembly candidate Jonathan David Rinaldi posted an AI-generated deepfake of incumbent Andrew Hevesi days after being accused of fraud, pushing the limits of state AI law.
- Incident date
- Apr 2026
- Target
- Andrew Hevesi
In April 2026, New York Assembly candidate Jonathan David Rinaldi posted an AI deepfake of his opponent, Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi. The incident occurred days after Rinaldi was accused of fraud and appeared to test the boundaries of state law regarding AI use in political campaigns.
What happened
The deepfake video depicted an AI-generated version of Hevesi speaking directly to the camera, making statements such as, “I’ve been stealing from you, and there's nothing you can do to stop me.” The video initially lacked a legally required AI disclosure. The fake Hevesi also referenced the incumbent's father's conviction on corruption charges. Rinaldi added an "Ai" comment to the post after being contacted about the lack of disclosure. The video emerged shortly after Hevesi accused Rinaldi of forging documents to change Hevesi's party affiliation, a claim Rinaldi denies. Hevesi stated that the video reflected more on Rinaldi's character than his own, and is not seeking legal relief at this time.