Anonymous Senate Mailers: New Hampshire AG Issues Cease-and-Desist

Three sets of political mailers arrived in New Hampshire mailboxes without identifying their sponsors, prompting the state Attorney General to issue a cease-and-desist order. The letters were sent ahead of Tuesday's election for U.S. Senate.

The mailers targeted Republican candidate John Sununu and Constitution Party candidate Edmond Laplante. Two of the pieces criticized Sununu on issues related to artificial intelligence and technology companies. The third piece praised Laplante and outlined several of his policy positions.

State law and federal law require political mailers to include a disclaimer identifying the person or entity responsible for the advertisement. None of the three mailers included this information. Attorney General John Formella announced the action Friday.

The office determined that Journeyman Press, a printing company based in Massachusetts, produced the mailers. Pinpoint Campaigns, a direct mail firm based in Washington, commissioned the work. The Attorney General's office sent cease-and-desist letters to both companies. Journeyman Press stated that no further mailers are scheduled for delivery to New Hampshire voters.

Formella's office contacted the campaigns of Sununu, Laplante, and their Democratic opponent, Rep. Chris Pappas. The office also reached out to the state Republican and Democratic parties. All five groups stated they had no prior knowledge of or coordination with the two firms regarding the production of the anonymous mailers.

The Election Law Unit within the Attorney General's office is investigating the mailers. Formella's office said the announcement aims to keep voters informed before they cast their ballots on Tuesday.