New Delhi: Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican nominee for governor of Ohio, has taken responsibility for an ad attacking opponent Democrat Amy Acton.
In the ad, Acton’s estranged mother calls her a “liar”, claiming the Democrat candidate has caused her mental health issues.
Ramaswamy’s team on Tuesday confirmed that they will spend around four million dollars to promote the ad, even if it is facing criticism.
Acton on Tuesday, in an interview with Spectrum News, said that this has been a “lifelong pattern” of Ramaswamy.
Amy Acton’s childhood
The Democratic candidate Acton has publicly spoken up about her and her brother Stearns facing abuse in their childhood while living with their mother, Donna Arthur.
Acton was three years old when her parents got divorced. The custody of the siblings went to her mother. They changed 18 houses during the first 12 years. They were subjected to poverty and hunger as kids; even Arthur left the siblings with relatives to earn money.
Acton’s stepfather sexually abused and molested her between the ages of 9 and 12. In 1978, Acton’s biological father reported the conduct to authorities, resulting in the arrest of her stepfather. Acton continued to suffer so that she could protect her brother.
Arthur chose to stand by her husband.
Acton’s team published a statement through her brother Phillip Stearns before Ramaswamy’s double down.
“Such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at twelve years old from our birth mother’s husband into a political talking point,” he said.
Stearns, in his video message, said that their mother “stayed married to Amy’s rapist until he died.”
Acton and her brother’s life stabilised after they moved in with their biological father.
“This desperate, disgusting attack reveals exactly who Vivek Ramaswamy is at his core– a pathetic excuse for a man who is willing to hurt anyone as long as it gets him what he wants,” Stearns said in the video.
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Ramaswamy’s acknowledgement
Since the video started circulating, it drew criticism from Democrats and a few Republicans, The Hill reported.
In a statement given to Associated Press, Ramaswamy’s team said that Acton’s mother was not paid for the one-minute spot.
The promotional ad will continue to air both online and on television as the election nears.
Acton, in her interview, said that she would not let anyone “normalise” her childhood trauma.
“Normalize somebody who has said that my childhood is something I am just complaining about. Who today just released an ad using my birth mother, whom I was removed from at the age of 12 for severe abuse, neglect and sexual abuse,” she said.
Ramaswamy has previously attacked Nikki Haley’s daughter during the 2023 presidential election while both were fighting from the Republican Party.
Casey Putsch, a Republican competing for Ohio Governor elections, wrote that he is voting for Acton.
“In light of the most recent attack by Vivek (by way of manipulating Amy’s family) I have considered this—Vivek and his friends cover up human and child trafficking while attacking Amy Acton over the abuse she endured as a child. These revolting and manipulative men show no care or genuine concern for people or Ohio and that is the reason I was called to run against Vivek in the primary,” he posted on X.
“Amy, may you lead Ohio with compassion for everybody and our future as normal people together”.
(Edited by Ratan Priya)