U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow on Friday criticized Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming for sharing on social media an AI video depicting a fake version of her referring to her late husband.
“The posting of this video is shameful and indefensible,” Letlow said in a live video posted Friday, the first day of early voting in the head-to-head U.S. Senate primary between both Republicans.
“Family members are not allowed in,” Letlow said. “Period. It’s unconscionable to include my late husband Luke in your video. Not only did you mention his death, you made it seem like entertainment.”
On Thursday, Fleming shared what he claimed was a parody video that he did not make. It features an AI-generated portrait of Letlow, praising diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and saying he supports carbon capture and sequestration. Fleming reposted the video Friday morning.
The AI version of Letlow says, “I was running to become president of the University of Louisiana when my poor husband died, and I was appointed to his House of Representatives.”
In 2021, Letlow won a special election to fill the seat vacated by her late husband, Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, who died of COVID-19 just a few months ago in December.
Fleming said Friday that Letlow’s campaign must first work to remove his “dishonest” and “offensive” AI videos from the internet before considering removing the post.
Gov. Jeff Landry, who is supporting Letlow in the Senate primary, also criticized Fleming for the video.
“There are lines that should not be crossed and using the loss of a spouse for political purposes is one of them,” Landry said in a social media post. “Luke and I were friends until the day he died. John Fleming should be ashamed.”
U.S. House Minority Leader Steve Scalise also condemned the move.
“John Fleming needs to remove this AI-generated fake video immediately!” Scalise wrote of X, “Luke Letlow was a dear friend and a true public servant. Unjustly attacking his legacy for cheap political points is a new low and may even be illegal.”
The Republican primary runoff election will be held on June 27th, and early voting will continue until June 20th.
