DeWine urges Ramaswamy to withdraw attack ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother
publishers 26articles 29first reported 21 Oct, 06:30 UTCdeveloping since 21 Oct · 11 editions
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called on Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to remove a campaign advertisement featuring the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton, describing the ad as “deeply troubling,” according to the BBC and other news reports.
In the advertisement, Donna Arthur says her daughter has “lied her entire life.” The ad does not mention that Arthur’s husband was charged with raping Acton when she was a child. Acton and her brother were subsequently removed from Arthur’s custody. Acton’s campaign told the BBC that she last saw her mother in a courtroom in 1978, after her stepfather was indicted. He fled before trial, was never prosecuted and died in 2004.
Acton called the ad “despicable” and said she had never attacked Ramaswamy’s family. Her brother, Philip Stearnes, accused Ramaswamy of turning Acton’s childhood sexual abuse into “a political talking point.” Ramaswamy’s campaign claimed responsibility for the ad and said it would spend $4 million airing it statewide.
President Donald Trump defended the advertisement Thursday and said it should remain on air, while criticizing DeWine’s demand that it be withdrawn. Vice President JD Vance also criticized Republicans objecting to the ad.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said his office was reviewing complaints that the advertisement may initially have appeared without a legally required sponsor disclaimer. The controversy also prompted increased donations to Acton, whose campaign rose to second place among trending campaigns on the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue, The Hill reported.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 50 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 26
- Source articles
- 29
- Given to the writer
- 8, 2 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 50 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →