Crawford Campaign Files Ethics Complaint, Urges Thorough Investigation Over Manipulated Image Used by Brad Schimel
MADISON, Wis. – Today, Judge Susan Crawford’s campaign for the Wisconsin Supreme Court filed an ethics complaint over Brad Schimel’s campaign using a potentially AI-manipulated image of Judge Crawford in a new ad. The complaint, filed with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission under a bipartisan state law that mandates disclosure in AI-manipulated political ads, requires the Ethics Commission to investigate potential violations. The ad is currently airing on broadcast stations across Wisconsin and has been promoted by Schimel’s campaign online.
The original image, taken in 2016 on the Capitol Square in Madison and used as Judge Crawford’s headshot for several years, shows her with a wide smile. In the Schimel campaign’s newest ad, Judge Crawford’s image has been dishonestly manipulated to show her scowling — potentially in violation of 2023 Wisconsin Act 123, a bipartisan state law requiring transparency in political ads using AI-manipulated images. This complaint is likely the first one filed under the new law and those found in violation face fines of up to $1,000 per instance.
The Schimel campaign has admitted to editing the image in an effort to make Judge Crawford look “ashamed.”
See a video of the original image, compared to the manipulated image, below:
Image from the Crawford campaign.
Campaign spokesman Derrick Honeyman released the following statement:
“Brad Schimel is manipulating images and telling lies to try and hide from his own soft-on-crime record of allowing over 6,000 sexual assault kits to sit untested for two years and letting domestic abusers walk with no jail time. Schimel’s campaign has admitted to deceptively editing this image, and we urge the Wisconsin Ethics Commission to thoroughly investigate this dishonest and manipulated advertisement.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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