Sean Hannity claimed that the backlash against Vivek Ramaswamy’s attack ad targeting Amy Acton is a “dirty trick by Democrats,” a jaw-dropping assertion that went unchallenged by guest Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) on Fox News’ “Hannity.”
The ad has become a focal point in the heated Ohio governor’s race, pitting Republican Ramaswamy against Democrat Acton.
This controversial commercial features Acton’s estranged mother accusing her of lying and urging voters to reject her. The mother lost custody of Acton when she was just 12 years old, following accusations of repeated rape against Acton’s stepfather. The mother later fled the state with her husband, who faced indictment.
Despite widespread condemnation from both sides of the aisle, Ramaswamy and former President Donald Trump have stood by the ad.
Hannity’s disjointed defense stands out as particularly outrageous. “I also talked to Vivek Ramaswamy,” he stated to Moreno. “When Vivek Ramaswamy did this ad, people jumped to the conclusion.”
He continued, “There was never any reference to any past sexual abuse when the mother of his opponent um, talked about — he was referring to her claiming that she grew up in a tent, and the mother said no, we didn’t grow up in a tent and she’s lying and she has a problem with telling the truth. It looks like a dirty trick by Democrats in your state of Ohio. Is that true?”
Moreno allowed Hannity’s bizarre claim to pass without challenge, seemingly prioritizing political convenience.
“Well, look, politics is a dirty game,” the senator replied.
Hannity’s apparent misrepresentation is staggering. Much of the outrage stems from the mother’s questionable credibility; reports indicate they haven’t seen each other since a courtroom appearance in 1978. Furthermore, court records confirm that the family did indeed live in a tent. In a striking contradiction, the mother references her involvement with a sexual abuse program in the ad, an unsettling detail given her troubled history with her daughter.
Moreno seized the opportunity to criticize Acton’s handling of COVID-19 as the state’s health department director while pushing for support for Ramaswamy.
