Vivek Ramaswamy Faces Backlash Over Ad Featuring Opponent Amy Acton’s Mother

A viral political advertisement featuring Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, has sparked backlash against her Republican rival, Vivek Ramaswamy. The one-minute video, circulating online without identifying its origin, accuses Acton of lying about her childhood and disputes her claims of experiencing homelessness as a child.

Actress and activist Eva Longoria, who supports Acton, condemned the ad, saying it "reduces a survivor's experience to political fodder." The controversy comes two weeks before the midterm elections, raising concerns about transparency in online political advertising. While Acton has accused Ramaswamy of being behind the video, there is no confirmed evidence linking his campaign to its production or financing.

"I won't normalize somebody who has said that my childhood is 'something I'm just complaining about,'" Acton stated during an appearance on Spectrum News. Her brother, Philip Stearns, also condemned the video, emphasizing that their mother was removed from custody at age 12 due to allegations of severe abuse and neglect. Stearns accused Ramaswamy of using Acton's sexual abuse by her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, who was arrested and indicted in 1978, as a political talking point.

"It's not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to 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," Stearns stated in a statement released by Acton's campaign. Police and court records reveal that Cledith Arthur was arrested and charged with rape in 1978, but he died before the trial.

Acton's campaign spokesperson, Connie Luck, has not publicly addressed whether her campaign was involved in producing or distributing the video. Instead, they questioned Ramaswamy's credibility, calling him a "serial fabulist" with "serious problems with the truth." Luck also criticized Acton for refusing to participate in a debate with Ramaswamy, arguing that voters deserved an opportunity to hear the candidates address the issues directly.

The lack of sponsor identification in the video has raised questions under Ohio's political advertising disclosure laws, as the state requires disclaimers on certain political communications, including online ads. The video has not been confirmed to have aired on television, and its producer and funding source remain unidentified.