Jonathan Rinaldi, a long-time political candidate and known sperm donor, was arraigned Wednesday on multiple charges related to the use of fabricated endorsements in his campaign for a Queens City Council seat. Prosecutors in Queens charged Rinaldi, 47, with three counts of forgery and 15 counts of possession of a forged instrument for allegedly posting false articles and endorsements generated through artificial intelligence.

Rinaldi, who has garnered attention for referring to himself as the “Sperminator” due to his claim of fathering at least 12 children via sperm donation, reportedly began the scheme soon after declaring his candidacy for the District 29 seat in Queens last year. According to prosecutors, he created and disseminated fake news articles and endorsements on social media, representing them as coming from established outlets including The Post.

One notable incident occurred on October 20, 2025, when Rinaldi is alleged to have used the logo of the Queens Jewish Alliance without authorization to imply the group supported his campaign. This unauthorized claim was part of a broader pattern in which AI-generated content was employed to fabricate a favorable public image and endorsements.

Law enforcement officials have described the case as an attempt to deceive voters by manipulating public perception through counterfeit digital materials. While details about Rinaldi’s defense have not been disclosed, the charges highlight growing concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence technologies in political campaigns.

The District 29 seat, which Rinaldi sought, is a competitive position in Queens politics, though it was unclear how much impact the forged endorsements may have had on the election’s outcome. The case is ongoing, with prosecutors continuing to investigate the extent of the alleged fraud and the use of AI-generated content in election-related activities.