Judge Blocks Vermont AG's Subpoena Of Satirist Who Mocked Rep. Balint
Charity Clark's office subpoenaed Henry Poitras on June 12 under a new deepfake law, threatening criminal prosecution over his AI video.
- The June 7 video showed Mark Coester dumping an AI Balint into a dumpster over her policies.
- Vermont's Act 75 fines synthetic media violations up to $15,000 and warns of criminal prosecution.
- Judge William Sessions ruled September 4 the video's 'ridiculous nature' makes it likely protected satire.
Why it matters: A law broad enough to reach satire turns prosecution into the prosecutor's taste, not evidence of any crime.
D. Vt. preliminary injunction order, Poitras v. Clark, 2:26-cv-234 ↗ · Sep 12, 20269/12/26