Rinaldi Seeks to Move Fraud Case Out of Queens
Jonathan David Rinaldi's attorney says the perennial candidate's forgery case should be heard outside Queens due to a conflict of interest.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Jonathan David Rinaldi, a perennial Queens political candidate, has had his attorney announce intent to file a motion moving his fraud case out of Queens. The Queens District Attorney's office has until mid-December to reply.
Why it matters
The request centers on whether a county can impartially try a defendant who previously ran for office there. The outcome could shape how venue is handled in cases involving local political figures and AI-generated campaign content.
Rinaldi faces three counts of third-degree forgery and 15 counts of third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, with up to two years in prison if convicted. His court-appointed attorney, Andry Cleghorn, has announced intent to move the case out of Queens, and the Queens District Attorney has until mid-December to respond.
The players
Jonathan David Rinaldi
A perennial Queens political candidate who lost the Democratic primary to Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi and now faces fraud charges.
Andry Cleghorn
The court-appointed attorney representing Rinaldi, who announced the intent to move the case out of Queens.
Queens District Attorney's Office
The prosecuting office in Queens County responsible for responding to the change-of-venue motion.
The details
Rinaldi was arrested and charged with fraud in June on the day of the primary election. He made social media posts during his 2025 City Council campaign that used computer-generated and AI-generated graphics claiming endorsements from Andrew Cuomo and Bob Holden, which he later admitted were fabricated. His attorney argues Queens County has a conflict of interest because Rinaldi ran for office there.
Timeline
2025: Rinaldi made AI-generated campaign posts during his City Council run.
June 2026: Rinaldi was arrested and charged with fraud on primary election day.
November 4, 2026: Rinaldi's attorney announced intent to move the case out of Queens.
Mid-December 2026: Deadline for the Queens District Attorney's office to reply to the motion.
Legal Context
Rinaldi's case follows his 2025 City Council campaign, where he circulated AI-generated graphics claiming endorsements from Andrew Cuomo and Bob Holden. The change-of-venue request tests whether a county where a defendant previously ran for office can hear his criminal case impartially.
Voters in Queens may see reporting on how local candidate conduct, including AI-generated campaign content, is prosecuted. The motion's outcome could determine where Rinaldi's fraud case is heard.
The takeaway
Campaign materials that falsely claim endorsements can lead to criminal charges, regardless of whether the candidate wins. Voters should verify endorsement claims with the endorsing individuals or their official channels.
What happens next
The Queens District Attorney's office must file its reply to the change-of-venue motion by mid-December 2026.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Elections in New York City.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Queens Daily Eagle.
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