Queens Assemblymember Files Criminal Complaint After Opponent Allegedly Forged Documents to Steal Election

A Queens state assemblymember has filed a criminal complaint alleging his primary opponent tried to steal an election through voter registration fraud -- and the accused candidate's track record suggests this wouldn't be his first brush with deception.

Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi, who has represented parts of Forest Hills, Middle Village, Rego Park, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill and Glendale since 2005, swore out a complaint with the Queens District Attorney's office on Monday accusing Jonathan David Rinaldi of forging documents to change Hevesi's party affiliation without his knowledge or consent.

The allegedly falsified paperwork, obtained by the Queens Eagle, included what appeared to be Hevesi's signature, address, and date of birth on a form requesting the Board of Elections switch his registration from the Democratic Party to the Working Families Party. If successful, the scheme would have barred Hevesi from appearing on the Democratic primary ballot -- leaving Rinaldi, who has run multiple times as a Republican, as the only Democrat in the race.

"I am, and have always been a Democrat, and would never change parties," Hevesi said in a statement. "I have already taken steps to restore my actual enrollment, and I look forward to running for re-election as a Democrat with the support of the Working Families Party."

While Hevesi did not present direct evidence linking Rinaldi to the forgery, he argued his opponent is the only person with a clear motive to remove him from the ballot. The alleged fraud was first reported by the New York Times.

A Pattern of Fabrication

This is far from Rinaldi's first controversy. The perennial candidate has built a reputation for political stunts that blur the line between unethical campaigning and outright fraud.

Last year, Rinaldi posted fabricated headlines claiming endorsements from former Governor Andrew Cuomo, Councilmember Bob Holden, and even Hevesi himself. He also falsified endorsements from local Jewish groups. When confronted, he initially claimed he had been hacked before eventually admitting to the posts.

His campaign materials have featured AI-generated videos of local Queens residents praising him, along with AI-created images of himself campaigning and speaking on policy issues. His website continues to host these synthetic endorsements.

Rinaldi has also been arrested for creating a disturbance at a polling site on Election Day 2024, and has been accused of harassing political opponents during previous campaigns. The New York Post once dubbed him the "sperminator" for his prolific sperm donation habits.

"Mr. Rinaldi has built his political reputation on lies, deception, and unquestionably unethical behavior," Hevesi said. "Knowing he could never win based on any merit, throughout his past campaigns, he has repeatedly lied to the voters, gotten caught, and been defeated at the ballot box. But now he has apparently crossed the line from George Santos-style fabulism into criminal fraud and forgery, and it is time for him to be held accountable."

Rinaldi Denies Involvement, Points to System Vulnerabilities

In a text message to the Queens Eagle, Rinaldi denied any involvement in the registration change.

"I had absolutely no involvement in any change to Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi's voter registration, and neither did anyone acting on my behalf," he wrote. "What this situation actually highlights is a serious vulnerability in our election system. If a voter registration can be changed by mail, without identification, and even with apparent errors, that should concern every New Yorker."

He added that "the focus should be on ensuring the integrity and security of the system so this cannot happen to anyone else."

The Queens District Attorney's office declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

Why This Matters

Voter registration fraud is a serious crime -- and when it's allegedly committed by a candidate trying to eliminate his opponent from the ballot, it strikes at the heart of democratic elections. This isn't about phantom voters or mail-in ballot conspiracies. This is an allegation of a candidate attempting to manipulate the electoral process by forging documents to disqualify a sitting elected official.

If proven, Rinaldi's alleged scheme represents exactly the kind of election interference that undermines public trust in democratic institutions. And his documented history of fabricating endorsements, creating fake news stories, and deploying AI-generated campaign materials suggests a pattern of deception that voters deserve to know about before they head to the polls.

The investigation continues.