Ramaswamy campaign airs controversial ad

Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign for Ohio governor released a sixty-second ad featuring Dr. Amy Acton's estranged mother calling her a liar about her past.

The ad surfaced October nineteenth

The ad first appeared on social media on October nineteenth and drew widespread backlash, including from some Republicans, before Ramaswamy confirmed his campaign produced it.

Campaign plans four million dollar spend

Ramaswamy told reporters on October twentieth that his campaign plans to spend four million dollars airing the ad, though only two thousand one hundred sixteen dollars had been spent by that date.

Acton's account of her childhood

Acton has said she was removed from her mother's custody at age twelve after her stepfather was charged with raping her. She says she has not seen or spoken to her mother since.

Mother denies housing insecurity claim

In the ad, Donna Arthur accuses her daughter of lying about their past. She says Acton lied about living in a tent and has lied her entire life.

“She is a liar. She lies about her past. She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true.”

Court records support Acton's account

Court documents show Cledith Arthur was charged with rape in July nineteen seventy-eight after Acton's biological father reported the abuse. He was indicted by a grand jury that September.

Stepfather fled before trial

The case never went to trial because the Arthurs left town without notifying authorities. A Mahoning County judge issued a warrant for Cledith Arthur's arrest in October nineteen seventy-eight after he failed to appear for…

Tent residence documented in records

Acton's campaign provided a nineteen eighty-two police report documenting an interview with a campground manager who said Cledith Arthur had lived there. Arrest paperwork from nineteen seventy-eight also lists that campground as his address.

Brother corroborates abuse account

Philip Stearns, Acton's younger brother, released a statement saying he received abuse but Amy got the worst of it and protected him from further harm.

“I received a lot of abuse, but Amy always got the worst of it.”

Ramaswamy defends the ad as legitimate

Ramaswamy said the ad represents a pattern of people who know Acton well saying the same thing, and voters should take that into account when deciding.

“This is part of a pattern. Someone else who appears to know her well who says the same thing, and I do think that is important for voters to take all of that into account.”