Science & Tech · AI · 5 hrs ago
Fake video falsely shows Maine candidate threatening staff with an axe
Maine Senate candidate Troy Jackson was targeted by a fake video that accused him of threatening staffers with an axe.
WABI confirmed the video was fabricated and said it used a synthetic voice; the clip appeared to imitate a news report from the Maine station.
It combined dubbed audio with real footage of Jackson, including a segment about reports of angry outbursts during his time as Maine Senate president.
Those earlier reports did not say he threatened staffers with an axe.
Jackson is challenging Republican Senator Susan Collins, and several polls put him ahead as Republicans view her seat as important to keeping control of the US Senate.
NewsGuard linked the video to a suspected Russian influence operation called Storm-1516, which it said has also targeted Democratic Senate candidates in Texas and Ohio with manipulated videos.
No next steps were given for addressing the video, and Jackson's campaign had not responded to requests for comment at publication.
A fabricated video falsely showed Maine Senate candidate Troy Jackson threatening to kill staff members with an axe.
NewsGuard said the video appears to be part of a Russian influence operation known as Storm-1516.
WABI vice president Kim Petry confirmed the video was not produced, aired or authorized by the station and appeared to use a synthetic voice.
The video combined dubbed audio with real WABI footage that originally appeared online in July 2026.
Jackson is a Democrat challenging Republican incumbent Susan Collins.
- Who
- Maine Senate candidate Troy Jackson was targeted. NewsGuard said the video appears linked to Russian operatives.
- What
- A fake video presented as a WABI news report falsely claimed Jackson threatened staffers with an axe.
- When
- The original WABI footage appeared online in July 2026. The story was published on October 30, 2026.
- Where
- Maine; the video impersonated WABI, a Maine TV station.
- Why
- NewsGuard said the video appears to be part of a Russian influence operation. The sources do not state a specific motive.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Real WABI footage later used in the manipulated video appeared on the station’s website.
Mashable reported that the video was fabricated and that NewsGuard linked it to the Storm-1516 influence operation.
- Candidate
- Troy Jackson, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate
- Opponent
- Republican incumbent Susan Collins
- Impersonated outlet
- WABI
- Original footage
- Appeared on WABI’s website in July 2026
- Attributed operation
- Storm-1516, according to NewsGuard
What people are saying
It was not produced, aired, or authorized by WABI