AG clears House candidate for satirical web post inviting Massachusetts voters to cast ballots in N.H.

The state Division of Justice has cleared a candidate working for the New Hampshire Home for posting a satirical video to TikTok by which she invited folks dwelling in Massachusetts to board New Hampshire-bound buses and forged ballots within the state.

The candidate, Democrat Kathleen Cavalaro of Rochester, says the video was a joke meant to focus on false claims of voter fraud made by Republicans lately.

“You’ll be able to truly vote for me. Simply get on a type of buses that is available in from Massachusetts and go to Ward 2 in Rochester and vote for me,” Cavalaro mentioned in a Might 23 publish on TikTok.

Republicans, together with former President Donald Trump and Gov. Chris Sununu, have alleged, with out proof, that Democrats carry voters on buses from Massachusetts to forged ballots in New Hampshire.

Lawyer Basic John Formella’s workplace mentioned Monday it investigated Cavalaro’s publish after receiving complaints.

“Primarily based on the remark from Ms. Cavalaro that her video publish is meant to be a joke, and in an interview together with her, the Lawyer Basic’s Workplace concludes that the video doesn’t represent prison solicitation to wrongfully vote and is protected speech beneath the First Modification,” Formella’s workplace mentioned in an announcement. “Nonetheless, given that there’s a threat that the video publish may lead to voter confusion — or result in a prison act if a Massachusetts resident votes in New Hampshire — this workplace has requested that Ms. Cavalaro contemplate eradicating her Might 23 video.”

Cavalaro says the video will stay up.

“It’s my protected speech; I’m allowed to joke,” Cavalaro mentioned Monday. “And for the file, I plan on persevering with to make enjoyable of Republicans.”

Cavalaro is new to state politics. She owns a jewellery enterprise known as Rage Gems & Jewellery which, in line with its web site, has a purpose of “serving to to tear down the Patriarchy.”

Earlier than that, Cavelaro ran a advertising agency and was govt director of the Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth.

Cavalaro is the lone Democratic candidate working in Strafford District 6, for a seat now held by Republican Rep. Clifford Newton.